Hughes 369HS accident near Helena, Alabama, November 25, 1999
On November 25, 1999 at about 1:35 am local time, a Hughes 369HS (helicopter), registered N395WM, was destroyed in an accident near Helena, Alabama. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions resulting in his becoming spatially disoriented and loosing control of the helicopter, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and impact with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 25, 1999 · about 1:35 am local time
- Place
- Helena, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369HS · all 369HSs on the register
- Registration
- N395WM · no longer on the register · serial 760828S
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot called the FAA, Anniston FSS about 15 minutes before departure and requested a weather briefing for a flight from Montgomery to Birmingham. The pilot was told that there was an airmet in effect for instrument flight rules conditions from Birmingham northward and that visual flight rules flight was not recommended. The flight departed Montgomery at about 1855. About 1935, witnesses heard the helicopter flying from south to north at a low altitude, making ' a steady, loud, whining noise.' About 2-3 seconds later they heard a 'thump' crash sound and then heard no more sound from the helicopter. They went outside of their house and observed the fire from the wreckage of N395WM. The witnesses stated that at the time of the accident the weather was dark and slightly foggy. Post-crash examination of the wreckage showed the helicopter had impacted in a near nose down vertical descent, while on a 185-degree heading. All components of the helicopter, which are necessary for flight, were located on or around the main wreckage. A post-crash fire had consumed the fuselage of the helicopter. Examination of the remaining portions of the helicopter structure, flight controls, main and tail rotor systems, and engine showed no evidence of pre-crash failure or malfunction. Damage to the main rotor system and engine drive shaft was consistent with the engine and rotor system operating at the time of the accident.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 800 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,483 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 17, 1999; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MGM Montgomery AL
- Destination: Bessemer AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from BHM, 22 miles away
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.