Agusta A109 accident near Newport, Oregon, July 1, 1996
On July 1, 1996 at about 11:57 pm local time, a Agusta A109 (helicopter), registered N808GM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newport, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to adequately compensate for the gusty wind condition during the landing. The gusty wind was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 1996 · about 11:57 pm local time
- Place
- Newport, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Agusta A109 · all A109s on the register
- Registration
- N808GM · no longer on the register · serial 7132
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter's left main landing gear collapsed as the pilot attempted a normal landing from a hover at his personal helipad. After the collapse, the main rotor blades and tail rotor blades contacted the ground, causing substantial damage to the tailboom and fuselage. The pilot stated that he saw three green landing gear cockpit lights, just before the accident, indicating that the landing gear was down and locked. He also stated that he heard a 'snap' noise in the tailboom just prior to the accident. An examination of the wreckage did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction, deficiency, or structural failure. The left main landing gear failed in overload. The wind was reported to be 350 degrees at 17 knots, gusting to 24 knots.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,001 hours in all; 1,143 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 3,512 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,111 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 13, 1995; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,730 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HIO Hillsboro OR at 11:15 pm
- Destination: 27OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 17 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:47 pm from ONP
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.