Hughes 369D (500D) accident near Coalville, Utah, April 27, 1982
On April 27, 1982 at about 6:55 pm local time, a Hughes 369D (500D) (helicopter), registered N8684F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coalville, Utah. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- April 27, 1982 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Coalville, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D (500D) 369D (500D · all 369D (500D)s on the register
- Registration
- N8684F · registry record · serial 1170228D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER MADE A HARD LANDING AFTER THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A POWER TRAIN FAILURE WHILE FLYING LOW AND SLOW. THE WEATHER WAS VMC AND A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE CREW WAS SEARCHING FOR LOST MINING EQUIPMENT IN A LOW SLOW SEARCH PATTERN. THE PILOT HEARD THE ENGINE OUT AUDIO IN HIS HEAD SET AS HE WAS LOOKING OUT. HE MANAGED TO AVOID TREES WHILE DESCENDING BUT MADE A HARD LANDING ON A STEEP SLOPE AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER.
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; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,050 hours in all; 2,010 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 3,898 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,397 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rocky Mountain Helicopters INC
The flight
- Departed from: Henefer UT at 6:50 am
- Destination: Henefer UT
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 122°F (50°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.