Hughes 369HS accident near Tok, Alaska, May 4, 1982
On May 4, 1982 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Hughes 369HS (helicopter), registered N9239F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tok, Alaska. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 1982 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Tok, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369HS · all 369HSs on the register
- Registration
- N9239F · no longer on the register · serial 350723S
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A NON-REVENUE, SLING-LOAD OPERATION ON MT NEUBERER, WHILE DONATING HIS SERVICES TO TOK COMMUNITY TV, INC. HE STATED THAT HE WAS LIFTING THREE EMPTY PROPANE BOTTLES FROM A SNOW FIELD WHEN HE NOTICED THE AUTO RELIGHT LAMP FLASH. HE STATED THAT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, THE ENGINE-OUT LIGHT AND HORN ACTIVATED AND THE LOAD MAY HAVE CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO ACCELERATE FORWARD DESPITE HIS AFT CYCLIC CONTROL INPUT. HE STATED THAT HE PUSHED THE ELECTRIC SLING RELEASE SWITCH. HOWEVER, THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE FORWARD AND DOWN. IT HIT THE GROUND IN A VERTICLE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE WHILE HE WAS APPLYING ALMOST FULL AFT CYCLIC. THE ELEVATION WAS ABOUT 5800 FT. THE ELECTRIC SLING LOAD LATCH WAS FOUND IN THE CLOSED POSITION. THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED AND CHECKED ON A TEST STAND. SEVERAL HUNG STARTS OCCURRED AT 45 TO 50% UNTIL A SLIGHT ADJUSTMENT WAS MADE TO INCREASE FUEL FLOW, THEN THE ENGINE OPERATED WELL, BUT ABOUT 5% BELOW MAX POWER. PILOT LACKED FAA APPROVAL, EXT LOAD OPN
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,300 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 1,084 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 239 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C Mt. Neuberger AK at 1:42 am
- Destination: C Tanacross AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.