Hughes 369D accident near Meredith, Colorado, August 13, 1982
On August 13, 1982, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N5014F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Meredith, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- August 13, 1982
- Place
- Meredith, Colorado
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N5014F · registry record · serial 988D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER WHILE HE WAS OVER STEEP WOODED TERRAIN. HE SPOTTED A CLEARING, BUT HAD TO USE RESIDUAL RPM TO CLEAR TREES DURING THE APPROACH. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. AN ENGINE TEARDOWN AND SUBSEQUENT TESTS OF THE ENGINE COMPONENTS DID NOT REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE THAT WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO A POWER LOSS OR FLAMEOUT. ELEVATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS ABOUT 7000 FT MSL.
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: 2,240 hours in all; 1,115 in this make and model; 242 in the last 90 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 510 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Meredith CO at 6:10 pm
- Destination: Meredith CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 162°F (72°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.