Mcdonnell Douglas 369HS accident near Oklee, Minnesota, November 9, 1989
On November 9, 1989 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas 369HS (helicopter), registered N9213F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oklee, Minnesota. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN UNDETERMINED POWER PLANT FAILURE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE SNOW COVERED TERRAIN, SNOW, AND GUSTY WIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 9, 1989 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Oklee, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas 369HS
- Registration
- N9213F · no longer on the register · serial 8406305
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED HE WAS FLYING AT 75 TO 100 FT AGL DUE TO SNOW WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD BANG FOLLOWED BY ILLUMINATION OF THE ENGINE OUT LIGHT AND THE ENGINE OUT AUDIO. WHILE MANEUVERING TO A LANDING AREA THE HELICOPTER WAS HIT BY A GUST OF WIND AND THE RIGHT SKID DUG INTO THE GROUND AND BROKE OFF, THEN THE LEFT SKID BROKE OFF. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED AND TEST RUN AT THE MANUFACTURER'S FACILITY AND EXHIBITED NO PROBLEM SUGGESTING FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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: 3,460 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 3,295 as pilot in command; 174 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,567 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, September 12, 1989; 47 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: BJI Bemidji MN at 2:30 pm
- Destination: Thief Rvr Falls MN
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 pm from TVF, 88 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.
Other NTSB records under N9213F 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.