Hughes H-369D accident near Wrangell, Alaska, September 13, 1983
On September 13, 1983 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Hughes H-369D (helicopter), registered N10915, was destroyed in an accident near Wrangell, Alaska. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 1983 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wrangell, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes H-369D
- Registration
- N10915 · registry record · serial 300691D
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD AND ROLLED OVER OUT OF AN AUTOROTATION ATTEMPT AFTER A POWER LOSS. THE ACFT WAS IN THE PROGRESS OF A LINE-PULL THROUGH TREES WHEN THE ATTITUDE CHANGED SUFFICIENTLY TO ALLOW THE FUEL PUMP TO ENTRAIN AIR INTO THE FUEL SYSTEM. THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ALT TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE COMPANY POLICY IS TO HAVE FULL FUEL LOAD FOR THIS TYPE OF OPERATION. THERE WAS ONLY 20 GALS OF FUEL ON BOARD AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,594 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 198 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 2,384 as pilot in command; 11 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,299 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 8, 1983; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison AL250C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Bradfield AK at 5:48 pm
- Destination: Wrangell AK
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; scat
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:25 pm from WRG, 26 miles away
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA83LA201.