Hughes 369D accident near Butte, Montana, January 3, 2002
On January 3, 2002 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N8393F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Butte, Montana. It was a public-use flight under public-use (government) rules. No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 3, 2002 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Butte, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N8393F · no longer on the register · serial 270091D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While returning from a flight at about 600-800 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. The pilot autorotated the helicopter to a median between a highway. During the event, the tailboom was severed. Post accident inspection of the engine and subsequent engine test cell run did not find evidence of a mechanical 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,850 hours in all; 1,850 in this make and model; 9,063 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 16, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BTM Butte MT at 7:45 pm
- Destination: BTM Butte MT
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 354° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 0.8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,200 ft; scat at 500 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from BTM, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.