Hughes 500D accident history
Complete safety record for the Hughes 500D, sourced from NTSB records, news reports, and official investigation authorities.
The 369, sold commercially as the Model 500, was designed by Hughes Helicopters. McDonnell Douglas bought the company in 1984, Boeing absorbed McDonnell Douglas in 1997, and the civil line was sold on in 1999 to become MD Helicopters. We file the 369 and 500 families under Hughes, which is how they are still generally known, and the later 600 and 900 under MD Helicopters.
How many 500D crashes have there been?
40 recorded incidents involving the Hughes 500D, from 1978 to 2026, with 20 deathsacross 11 fatal accidents. The deadliest was on 2011-10-16 at Liboi, Kenya, which killed 5.
What causes 500D accidents?
The most common established cause is mechanical failure, in 6 of them, then pilot error in 6.
Where do 500D accidents happen?
| Date | Location | Fatalities |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-14 | 🇨🇦Loughborough Inlet, Canada | 2 |
| 2026-02-13 | 🇫🇷Conques-sur-Orbiel, France | — |
| 2024-11-18 | 🇸🇪Langtora, Sweden | — |
| 2024-02-27 | 🇺🇸Kekaha, United States | — |
| 2023-06-02 | 🇳🇿Glenorchy, New Zealand | — |
| 2023-03-02 | 🇳🇿Dansey Pass, New Zealand | — |
| 2022-02-19 | 🇺🇸Newport Beach, United States | 1 |
| 2022-02-19 | 🇺🇸Newport Beach, United States | 1 |
| 2021-12-18 | 🇨🇭Unteriberg, Switzerland | — |
| 2020-08-24 | 🇫🇮Sarvisalo, Loviisa, Finland | — |
| 2020-07-13 | 🇰🇪Kanyonga, Kenya | 2 |
| 2019-08-01 | 🇳🇴Follebu, Norway | — |
| 2017-06-23 | 🇬🇷Schinias Marathonas, Greece | 2 |
| 2017-03-24 | 🇬🇧Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom | — |
| 2016-10-06 | 🇳🇿Wanaka, New Zealand | — |
| 2016-09-02 | 🇺🇸Honolulu, United States | — |
| 2015-07-06 | 🇰🇪Boni Forest, Kenya | 2 |
| 2014-11-18 | 🇺🇸Decatur, United States | — |
| 2014-08-11 | 🇺🇸Idaho Falls, United States | — |
| 2014-04-18 | 🇺🇸Santa Monica, United States | — |
| 2014-03-19 | 🇳🇿Gisborne, New Zealand | 1 |
| 2013-08-05 | 🇺🇸Delta Junction, United States | — |
| 2012-07-12 | 🇫🇮Kastire, Finland | — |
| 2011-11-12 | 🇪🇸Andratx, Spain | 2 |
| 2011-10-27 | 🇺🇸Colusa, United States | — |
| 2011-10-16 | 🇰🇪Liboi, Kenya | 5 |
| 2011-07-04 | 🇺🇸McGrath, United States | — |
| 2011-06-27 | 🇺🇸Ambler, United States | — |
| 2011-02-04 | 🇺🇸Elverta, United States | — |
| 2010-05-06 | 🇺🇸West Palm Beach, United States | — |
| 2009-10-16 | 🇺🇸Los Alamitos, United States | — |
| 2009-05-27 | 🇰🇪Kenya | — |
| 2000-07-18 | 🇬🇱15nm N of Nuuk, Greenland | 1 |
| 2000-07-16 | 🇬🇱Nuuk Airport, Greenland | — |
| 1990-07-30 | 🇵🇹Paredes, Portugal | 1 |
| 1985-08-31 | 🇵🇹Proença-a-Nova, Portugal | — |
| 1982-09-17 | 🇵🇹Pego Negro, Portugal | — |
| 1980-02-15 | 🇿🇼Shurugwi, Zimbabwe | — |
| 1980-02-02 | 🇦🇶Mount King, Enderby Land, Antarctica | — |
| 1978-07-17 | 🇩🇰Hallund, Brønderslev, Denmark | — |