Hughes 369HS accident near Ogilvie, Minnesota, October 22, 1989
On October 22, 1989 at about 7:27 pm local time, a Hughes 369HS (helicopter), registered N3961H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ogilvie, Minnesota. 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
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN CONDITIONS IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 22, 1989 · about 7:27 pm local time
- Place
- Ogilvie, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369HS · all 369HSs on the register
- Registration
- N3961H · no longer on the register · serial 520378S
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER DROPPING HIS SLING LOAD, DURING A HELICOPTER FIRE CONTROL OPERATION, HE NOTED A LOSS OF ENGINE RPM. THE ENGINE OUT LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOLLOWED BY THE LOW RPM WARNING AUDIO. AN EMERGENCY AUTOROATION WAS MADE IN A BURNED OUT SWAMPY AREA. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED OVER & WAS DAMAGED. NO PRE-ACCIDENT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ENGINE OR SYSTEMS WAS FOUND AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A FUEL SUPPLY SHORTAGE.
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: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,440 hours in all; 175 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 3,275 as pilot in command; 174 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,074 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, July 14, 1989; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BRD Brainerd MN at 6:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°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.
Other NTSB records under N3961H the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.