Hughes 369HS accident near Chemult, Oregon, December 15, 1982
On December 15, 1982 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Hughes 369HS (helicopter), registered N90876, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chemult, Oregon. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- December 15, 1982 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Chemult, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369HS · all 369HSs on the register
- Registration
- N90876 · no longer on the register · serial 10901145
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLT ENCOUNTERED HEAVY SNOW ENROUTE & THE ENG QUIT. DURING THE AUTOROTATION THE PLT MANEUVERED TO AVOID HITTING A RAILROAD SIGNAL TRESTLE BUT STRUCK SEVERAL RAILROAD SIGNAL CABLES & CRASHED. THE ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A PARTICLE SEPARATOR, NOR WAS THE INSTALLED INLET SCREEN DESIGNED TO HANDLE HEAVY SNOW. ADDITIONALLY, THE ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTO-RELITE SYSTEM. THE AFM PROHIBITS FLT IN FALLING SNOW WITHOUT THE AUTO-RELITE SYSTEM INSTALLED.
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: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,049 hours in all; 674 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 2,002 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,664 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C18 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C Klamath Falls OR at 10:00 am
- Destination: C Troutdale OR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 20 knots
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.