Hughes 369D accident near Hyder, Alaska, October 11, 1991
On October 11, 1991 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered CGKHR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hyder, Alaska. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE TAIL ROTOR HUB ASSEMBLY. FACTORS INCLUDE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN, AND HIGH VEGETATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 11, 1991 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hyder, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- CGKHR · no longer on the register · serial 690531D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HUGHES 369D WAS RETURNING TO A LOAD PICK UP POINT WHEN THE PILOT FELT AND HEARD A VIBRATION, WHICH SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM THE AREA OF THE TAIL ROTOR. THE PILOT ROLLED BACK THE POWER, AND BEGAN AN AUTOROTATION. AS HE INCREASED POWER AND COLLECTIVE, TO MANEUVER FOR THE FLARE, HE HEARD TWO LOUD BANGS COME FROM THE TAIL ROTOR AREA. THIS WAS FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY AN UNCONTROLLED ROTATION OF THE AIRFRAME. HE ATTEMPTTED TO APPLY FULL UP COLLECTIVE JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT, BUT HIT THE TERRAIN WITH CONSIDERABLE FORCE.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,500 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 5,450 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,145 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 18, 1991; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.