Hughes 369D accident near Troy, Oregon, June 6, 2007
On June 6, 2007 at about 12:50 pm local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N48MP, was involved in an accident near Troy, Oregon. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadvertent entanglement of the crewmemeber's helmet's communication cord with the structure of the helicopter during the helicopter's ascent, which resulted in the crewmember being elevated above ground level before the helmet's cord separated, resulting in the crewmember falling into an apple tree. A factor was the pilot's diminished visual lookout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 2007 · about 12:50 pm local time
- Place
- Troy, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N48MP · registry record · serial 1137D
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After landing and observing the crewmember unbuckle his seat belt, disconnect his headset communication cord and exit the helicopter, the pilot initiated a vertical takeoff; the pilot did not observe the crewmember as he ascended. About 10 to 15 feet above the ground the pilot sensed something similar to a load being released from the helicopter, and after repositioning the helicopter he observed the crewmember in an apple tree. The crewmember's headset's radio cord had become inadvertently entangled with the structure of the helicopter, separating after the aircraft initiated its ascent, resulting in the crewmember falling into the apple tree. It could not be determined where the helmets cord became entangled with the helicopter.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,767 hours in all; 1,659 in this make and model; 151 in the last 90 days; 67 in the last 30 days; 11,701 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Troy OR at 12:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
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.
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.