Hughes 369D accident near Stayton, Oregon, November 29, 1989
On November 29, 1989 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N446TN, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stayton, Oregon. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL FAILED TO RECORD THE PREVIOUS FLIGHT TIME FOR THE OVERRUNNING CLUTCH ON AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATION DOCUMENTS WHEN THE ASSEMBLY WAS OVERHAULED. ALSO, CAUSAL TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE OPERATOR FOR 175 HOURS AFTER MANDATORY RETIREMENT TIME FOR THE SPRAGUE ASSEMBLY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 29, 1989 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Stayton, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N446TN · no longer on the register · serial 1211037D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE HOVERING TO PICK UP AN EXTERNAL LOAD, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED LOSS OF ROTOR RPM AND EXECUTED A HOVERING AUTOROTATION. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. EXAMINATION OF THE OVERRUNNING CLUTCH REVEALED FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE OVERRUNNING CLUTCH ASSY. WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS OVERHAULED, THE PREVIOUS TIME WAS LISTED AS UNKNOWN. IT WAS INSTALLED ON THE ACCIDENT ACFT AND OPERATED 175 HOURS PAST MANDATORY REPLACEMENT.
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: 10,780 hours in all; 1,720 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 112 in the last 30 days; 10,750 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,688 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 26, 1989; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Stayton OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from SLE, 13 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.
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.