Hughes 369D accident near O'Neill, Nebraska, September 17, 2002
On September 17, 2002 at about 2:35 am local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N500EK, was substantially damaged in an accident near O'Neill, Nebraska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to turbine blade separation as a result of hot corrosion damage to the turbine blades. Contributing to the accident was the pilot misjudging the flare at the completion of the autorotation resulting in a hard landing. The dark night was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 2002 · about 2:35 am local time
- Place
- O'Neill, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N500EK · registry record · serial 1190610D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a complete loss of engine power during cruise flight at night. The pilot stated that during the flight, the engine failed, the emergency annunciator lights illuminated, and he felt a yaw due to the loss of full torque. He executed an autorotation to a bean field. The pilot stated that it was very dark and that depth perception was difficult and he flared too soon and "ran out of lift at about 10-12 feet above the ground." The helicopter subsequently impacted the ground. The main rotor blades sheared off the front right upper portion of the cabin and the tailboom. Examination of the engine at the accident site revealed that the N1 rotor system would not rotate. Subsequent examination revealed that the first stage turbine wheel had all of the blades broken off 0.2 to 0.4 inch above the rim at the leading edge and 0.1 to 0.15 inch above the rim at the trailing edge. Scanning electron microscope examination of the fractures revealed no fatigue progression. The fracture surface was oxidized and the macroscopic features were interdendritic, indicating that separation occurred in overload. A metallographic section of one of the blades was made. This section showed a loss of metal as a result of hot corrosion. Distinct spherical particles were observed ahead of the corrosion front, consistent with sulfadation. The chemistry of the spherical particles was found to be rich in sulfur. Examination of the second stage turbine wheel also showed features consistent with hot corrosion damage. Further examination of the submitted items showed that the microstructure, hardness and chemistry conformed to the engineering drawing requirements.
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; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,200 hours in all
- Last flight review: May 11, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,323 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 9, 2002; 12.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FOD Fort Dodge IA
- Destination: ANW Ainsworth NE
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 170° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 2:30 am from ONL, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.