Hughes 369HS accident near Leakey, Texas, November 27, 1995
On November 27, 1995 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Hughes 369HS (helicopter), registered N8312F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Leakey, Texas. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
improper planning/decision by the pilot, by failing to ensure there was adequate fuel on board, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent roll-over during a forced landing on hilly terrain. A factor relating to the accident was: downsloping terrain in the emergency landing area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 27, 1995 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Leakey, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369HS · all 369HSs on the register
- Registration
- N8312F · no longer on the register · serial 460809S
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter had been operating for 1-1/2 hours before the accident flight, transporting fencing materials to the top of a hill. Before lift-off on the last trip to the top of the hill, the pilot estimated there was 50 pounds of fuel on board. As the helicopter climbed towards the hilltop, the engine 'flamed out.' The pilot made a right pedal turn and autorotated. The helicopter touched down on the hill, rolled over, and slid downhill. The engine was later functionally tested, and it operated normally with no discrepancies noted.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,852 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 11,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,290 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 2, 1995; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE TX at 3:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.