Hughes 369D accident near Birkenfeld, Oregon, May 19, 1982
On May 19, 1982 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N1096L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Birkenfeld, Oregon. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- May 19, 1982 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Birkenfeld, Oregon
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N1096L · no longer on the register · serial 789D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED 150 LBS OF FUEL REMAINING WHEN HE BEGAN THE FLIGHT. SINCE THE DROP POINT WAS WITHIN 2 TO 3 MINUTES OF THE DEPARTURE POINT, HE ELECTED TO PROCEED WITHOUT REFUELING. WHILE HOVERING AND BEING GUIDED INTO THE DROP POINT, THE LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT FLICKERED. THE PILOT COMPLETED THE DROP, AND WHILE RETURNING TO THE REFUELING AREA, THE LIGHT FLICKERED 3 MORE TIMES. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHEN HE ARRIVED AT THE REFUELING AREA, THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED APPROXIMATELY 50 TO 60 LBS OF FUEL REMAINING. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER WHILE THE HELICOPTER WAS STILL ABOUT 50 TO 60 FT AGL. DURING AN AUTOROTATION, THE HELICOPTER WAS LANDED ON THE HILLSIDE OF A LOGGING AREA WHILE AVOIDING A TRUCK.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,143 hours in all; 790 in this make and model; 109 in the last 90 days; 3,676 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 695 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Birkenfeld OR at 12:10 pm
- Destination: Birkenfeld OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 N1096L 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.