Hughes 369D accident near Indianapolis, Indiana, September 30, 1983
On September 30, 1983 at about 3:25 pm local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N5127X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Indianapolis, Indiana. It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were 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
- September 30, 1983 · about 3:25 pm local time
- Place
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N5127X · no longer on the register · serial 1191D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE THE HELICOPTER WAS CRUISING AT ABOUT 500 FT AGL, THE ENG LOST POWER. THE PLT TURNED INTO THE WIND & MADE AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING IN A CORN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING, THE TAIL BOOM WAS SEVERED BY THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE HOUSING WHICH CONTAINED THE CONTROL CABLE TO THE FUEL SHUTOFF VALVE WAS NOT SECURED TO THE ATTACH POINT ON THE MOUNT. THE LOOSE CONNECTION ALLOWED THE HOUSING TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE PANEL WHICH RESULTED IN PULLING THE CABLE TOWARD THE CLOSED POSITION. IN TURN, THIS RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,500 hours in all; 503 in this make and model; 113 in the last 90 days; 5,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 451 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 29, 1983; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Why Not INC.
The flight
- Departed from: IND Indianapolis IN at 3:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.