Hughes 500D accident near Kennsington, Alaska, October 4, 1990
On October 4, 1990 at about 11:20 pm local time, a Hughes 500D (helicopter), registered N1107G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kennsington, Alaska. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF DUE TO DYNAMIC ROLLOVER. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S SELECTION OF AN UNEVEN LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 1990 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Kennsington, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 500D
- Registration
- N1107G · registry record · serial 210899D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND WAS UNABLE TO FIND A FLAT SPOT TO SET THE HELICOPTER ON TO PICK UP HIS PASSENGERS. HE NOSED THE HELICOPTER INTO THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN AND MAINTAINED THE AFT PORTION OF THE SKIDS AT A HOVER. THE PASSENGERS LOADED THEMSELVES AND WERE STRAPPED IN WHEN THE PILOT BEGAN HIS TAKEOFF. HE APPLIED POWER AND THE HELICOPTER BEGAN SETTLING AFT. HE CONTINUED TO APPLY POWER AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE AND TURNED 90 DEGREES TO ITS LEFT. THE PILOT DID NOT RECALL HEARING AN ENGINE-OUT WARNING AND THE CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS FOUND IN THE OUT POSITION. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER AND TEST RUN OF THE ENGINE SHOWED NO REASON FOR A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OR MECHANICAL FAILURE. THE TERRAIN WAS UNEVEN AND VERY ROCKY.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,925 hours in all; 1,850 in this make and model; 205 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 4,525 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,266 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 5, 1990; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20-B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N1107G the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.