Hughes 369D accident near Waterfall, Pennsylvania, February 16, 1988
On February 16, 1988 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N5093Y, was destroyed in an accident near Waterfall, Pennsylvania. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. 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
- February 16, 1988 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Waterfall, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N5093Y · no longer on the register · serial 811045D
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD 'BOOM' AND EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR CONTROL ACCOMPANIED BY AN INCREASE IN N2 AND RPM. A RADIO TRANSMISSION WAS MADE TO THE AIRCRAFT THAT WAS TRAILING AND THEN AN APPROACH FOR LANDING SET UP. ON LANDING, THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD BUT LEVEL AND WITH THE SKIDS IN LINE WITH THE FINAL APPROACH PATH. THE HELICOPTER BOUNCED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE COMING TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE, 45 FEET FROM THE SECOND TOUCHDOWN POINT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TAIL ROTOR HAD SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT IN FLT. THE TAIL ROTOR WAS 3/4 MILE FROM THE ACC SITE. 300 YARDS FARTHER AWAY WAS A FLT BAG FROM THE HELICOPTER WITH TAIL ROTOR PAINT ON IT. THERE WERE NO DOORS ON THE HELICOPTER BECAUSE OF ITS USE IN POWER LINE PATROL.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,836 hours in all; 296 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 1,591 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,175 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 3, 1988; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Hagerstown MD at 5:00 am
- Destination: Altoona PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.