Hughes 369A accident near Marietta, Pennsylvania, October 31, 2002
On October 31, 2002 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Hughes 369A (helicopter), registered N817SC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marietta, Pennsylvania (None airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor 's misjudgment of the helicopter's height above the river.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 31, 2002 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Marietta, Pennsylvania · None · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369A · all 369As on the register
- Registration
- N817SC · no longer on the register · serial 770089
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the flight instructor, he was at the controls of the helicopter, demonstrating confined area maneuvers above a river. He misjudged the helicopter's height, a skid dipped into the water, and the entire helicopter was then "pulled nose down" into the river. No mechanical deficiencies were 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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,012 hours in all; 338 in this make and model; 111 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 1,866 as pilot in command; 784 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 15, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 210 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 152 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 24, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,518 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 14, 2002; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250 C18 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LNS Lancaster PA at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from LNS, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.