Hughes 369D accident near Georgetown, California, September 15, 1993
On September 15, 1993 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N501RR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Georgetown, California. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL AFTER IMPROPERLY PLANNING HIS APPROACH TO A HOVER BY AVOIDING CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO SETTLING WITH POWER. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO JETTISON THE EXTERNAL LOAD BEFORE COLLIDING WITH THE TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 15, 1993 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Georgetown, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N501RR · registry record · serial 363D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A HELICOPTER FLYING AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED INTO TREES WHILE HOVERING OUT OF GROUND EFFECT. THE PILOT REPORTED A STABIIZED 500 FOOT AGL HOVER WHEN THE HELICOPTER ENTERED A 'VIOLENT VERTICAL DESCENT.' THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO JETTISON THE EXTERNAL LOAD BEFORE COLLIDING WITH TREES. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,475 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 1,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,123 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 29, 1993; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20R/2 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Erickson Air Crane, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Q61 at 6:50 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.