Hughes 369HS accident near Malvern, Arkansas, May 8, 1985
On May 8, 1985 at about 4:20 pm local time, a Hughes 369HS (helicopter), registered N9EE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Malvern, Arkansas. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 1985 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Malvern, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369HS · all 369HSs on the register
- Registration
- N9EE · registry record · serial 0684S
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A POWERLINE CONSTRUCTION OPERATION, A GROUND CREW MEMBER HOLDING A ROPE LEAD LINE RELEASED THE ROPE PREMATURELY AS THE HELICOPTER BECAME AIRBORNE. THE NYLON ROPE ENTANGLED THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM FORCING THE PLT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. THE GROUND CREW MEMBER IS SUPPOSED TO RETAIN A HOLD OF THIS LINE UNTIL THE HELICOPTER CLEARS THE TOWER WHERE THE LINE STRINGING OPERATION IS BEING CONDUCTED.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,500 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 10,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Malvern AR at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:47 pm from HOT, 10 miles away
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.