Hughes 369HS accident near Orlando, Florida, June 15, 1993
On June 15, 1993 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Hughes 369HS (helicopter), registered N500RT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Orlando, Florida. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE AUTOROTATIVE FORCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO SEIZURE OF THE COMPRESSOR IMPELLER FOLLOWING FAILURE OF THE NO.2 BEARING FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 1993 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Orlando, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369HS · all 369HSs on the register
- Registration
- N500RT · registry record · serial 8901075
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER. DURING THE DESCENT FOR A PRECUATIONARY LANDING, THE ENGINE EXPEREINCED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT INITIATED AN EXAGGERATED DECELERATION MANEUVER DUE TO UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE AUTOROTATIVE FORCED LANDING. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NO. 2 BEARING FAILED DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS ALLOWING THE COMPRESSOR IMPELLER TO CONTACT THE COMPRESSOR SHROUD. THE FAILED BEARING MATERIAL WAS FOUND ON BOTH MAGNETIC PLUGS LOCATED IN THE GEARBOX. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF OIL STARVATION TO THE BEARING AND IT WAS NOTED THAT THE BEARING WAS MANUFACTURED FROM CORRECT MATERIAL.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,463 hours in all; 864 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,627 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 12, 1993; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Magic Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,100 ft; not recorded at 4,100 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from MCO, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.