Hughes 369HS accident near Brookville, Pennsylvania, June 5, 1990
On June 5, 1990 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Hughes 369HS (helicopter), registered N8315F, was destroyed in an accident near Brookville, Pennsylvania. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
WORN TAIL ROTOR PITCH CONTROL ASSEMBLY, DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE/INSTALLATION, AND SUBSEQUENT FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE TAIL ROTOR SWASHPLATE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 1990 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Brookville, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369HS · all 369HSs on the register
- Registration
- N8315F · no longer on the register · serial 801S
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A POWER LINE PATROL FLT OVER WOODED TERRIAN, AT ABOUT 60 TO 85 FT AGL, TAILROTOR CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER WAS LOST. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SPIN TO THE RIGHT AND THE PLT ATTEMPTED A HOVERING AUTOROTATION. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN SPINNING FASTER. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT SETTLED ONTO THE POWER LINE, THEN CRASHED TO THE GROUND. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE TAIL ROTOR SWASHPLATE HAD FAILED FROM FATIGUE. THE SWASHPLATE OUTER DIAMETER WAS WORN WITH EVIDENCE OF SPALLING, THE BEARING INNER DIAMETER WAS LIGHTLY SCORED, THE SWASHPLATE THREADS WERE SEVERELY WORN WITH EVIDENCE OF SPALLING DUE TO RELATIVE MOTION WITH THE MATING THREADS OF THE LOCKNUT, AND THE LOCKWASHER TANG HAD WORN A SIGNIFICANT PATTERN IN THE SWASHPLATE KEYWAY.
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; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,500 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 11,000 as pilot in command; 4,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Helicopter Minit Men, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Dubois PA at 12:30 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.