Hughes 369D accident near Comfrey, Minnesota, July 5, 2007
On July 5, 2007 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N500NC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Comfrey, Minnesota. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 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 loss of engine power due to the loose pressure line during aerial application maneuvers which resulted in a hard forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 2007 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Comfrey, Minnesota
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N500NC · registry record · serial 1260052D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A helicopter sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during an aerial application spray run. The pilot reported that he "was able to land square on the skids, but the helicopter still bounced. The landing gear spread hitting the tanks, and snapping the uprights above the tanks. At that point, forward leg stuck in the ground, making the helicopter pitch forward. The blade in front made contact with the ground. The rotor system came around cutting the boom faring and tail off." The pressure line which connects to the Pg boss on the fuel control was found to be finger tight during an examination of the wreckage.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,284.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Teryjon Aviation INC.
The flight
- Departed from: MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from KMKT, 45 miles away
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.