Hughes 369D accident near Dweese, Nebraska, February 19, 1996
On February 19, 1996 at about 8:55 pm local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N5141Y, was destroyed in an accident near Dweese, Nebraska. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper in-flight planning and decision, and his lack of total experience in the type of operation. A factor was the crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 19, 1996 · about 8:55 pm local time
- Place
- Dweese, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N5141Y · registry record · serial 1114D
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter was being used to place workers and rigging on top of a transmission tower. This was the pilot's third flight in this type of operation. He was previously instructed that landing on the 'bridge' of the tower was not a desired place to land the helicopter. He briefed the work crew indicating that he would let them out on the 'goats peak' and not land on the bridge. The helicopter was then observed to takeoff and put one worker off on the north 'goats peak;' however, instead of putting the other worker off on the south 'goats peak' the helicopter was observed to land on the 'bridge.' After the worker and rigging were off loaded, the helicopter was seen to back off the 'bridge.' At that time the main rotor system was seen to strike the tower structure and then the helicopter descended to impact the terrain. The wind was estimated by witnesses (at the surface) to be from the southwest at 15 knots.
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; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 515 in this make and model; 6,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,640 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 4, 1996; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NONE NE at 8:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 15 knots
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.