Hughes 369D accident near Pacific Ocean, PO, September 24, 1994
On September 24, 1994, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N58400, was destroyed in an accident near Pacific Ocean, PO. It was an other work-use 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
failure of the helicopter's main rotor pitch change link (control rod). The helicopter was not recovered and the Safety Board was unable to determine the pitch change link's failure mode.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 24, 1994
- Place
- Pacific Ocean, PO
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N58400 · no longer on the register · serial 1200862D
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A FISH SPOTTING FLIGHT OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN ABOUT 480 FEET ABOVE THE OCEAN. THE CYCLIC CONTROL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY IN PILOT'S HAND. THE PILOT REGAINED CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND EXECUTED AN AUTOROTATION. DURING THE AUTOROTATION, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES TRACK WAS NOTICED TO BE ABOVE ITS NORMAL TIP PATH PLANE. THE HELICOPTER LANDED ON ITS FLOATS AND BEFORE IT SANK, THE PILOT SAW THE YELLOW CODED PITCH CHANGE LINK (CONTROL ROD) HANGING FROM THE SWASH PLATE. THE HELICOPTER SANK INTO THE OCEAN AND WAS NOT RECOVERED.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,700 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,059 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 26, 1994; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Caribbean Fishing CO.
The flight
- Destination: PO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.