Ownership guide
Hughes 369D
206 registered in the US, built from about 1976 to 1988, 4 seats, most with the Rolls-Royce 250. Its Airworthiness Directives, its engines', and what to check before buying one.
The fleet
- Registered in the US
- 206
- Built
- 1976 to 1988
- Half built by
- 1979
- Seats
- 4
- Engine type
- Turboshaft
- Most common engine
- Rolls-Royce 250
Engines installed
- Rolls-Royce 250177 aircraft (86%) · 53 ADs, 4 with a repeat action
From the FAA aircraft registry, rebuilt daily. Years are those recorded on each registration.
Airworthiness Directives
61 current ADs name the 369D airframe, 15 with a repeat action; 5 more were superseded. Its engines carry 53 more. 3 equipment ADs name the model.
The ones that come back
ADs with a repeat action: an inspection or replacement at an interval, for as long as the AD applies. These are the airworthiness costs an owner keeps paying.
- 2026-19-01Rotorcraft flight controlRotorcraftSupersedes 2024-23-06Repeat actionSep 29, 2026
- 2025-17-11Requires repetitively inspecting certain part-numbered T/R pedal support brackets and depending on the results, replacing the T/R pedal support bracket or refinishing any exposed areasTail rotor control system · RotorcraftRepeat actionSep 5, 2025
- 2021-22-11Requires a one-time visual and recurring borescope inspections of the torque tube and depending on the results, removing the torque tube from serviceTail rotor control system · RotorcraftRepeat actionDec 6, 2021
- 2020-18-20Requires tap inspecting each MR blade leading edge abrasion stripMain rotor blade · RotorcraftRepeat actionSep 23, 2020
- 2019-05-04Requires inspecting each main rotor blade (MRB) for a crackMain rotor blade · RotorcraftRepeat actionMar 13, 2019
- 2013-19-24Tail rotor bladesRotorcraftSupersedes 2003-08-51Repeat actionOct 31, 2013
- 2008-15-03Requires repetitive tap inspections of each tail rotor (T/R) blade abrasion stripMD Helicopters, Inc. Model 369A, OH-6A, 369D, 369E, 369F, 369FF, 369H, 369HE, 369HM, and 369HS Helicopters · RotorcraftRepeat actionJul 30, 2008
- 2007-12-23Requires inspecting each landing gear fairing support assembly (support assembly), replacing or reworking certain forward and aft landing gear assemblies, and creating an access hole to facilitate inspections and a...MD Helicopters, Inc. Model 369A, 369D, 369E, 369F, 369FF, 369H, 369HE, 369HS, 369HM, 500N, and OH-6A Helicopters · RotorcraftRepeat actionJun 14, 2007
- 2005-21-02MD Helicopters, Inc. Model 369D, 369E, 369F, 369FF, 500N, and 600N HelicoptersRotorcraftSupersedes 2003-24-01Repeat actionOct 17, 2005
- 2000-08-22MD Helicopters Inc. Model 369D, 369E, 500N, and 600N HelicoptersRotorcraftRepeat actionMay 5, 2000
- 99-13-09Requires a repetitive inspection of certain fork assemblies at intervals not to exceed 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) and removing and replacing, if necessary, each unairworthy fork assembly with an airworthy fork...MD Helicopters, Inc (MDHI) Model 369D and E Helicopters · RotorcraftRepeat actionJul 20, 1999
- 98-21-12McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems Model 369D, 369E, 369FF, 500N, AH-6, and MH-6 HelicoptersRotorcraftRepeat actionOct 7, 1998
- 98-15-26McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems Model 369A, 369D, 369E, 369F, 369FF, 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, 500N, 600N, and OH-6A HelicoptersRotorcraftSupersedes 98-03-15, 95-03-13, 96-10-09Repeat actionJul 23, 1998
- 95-03-11MD Helicopters, Inc. HelicoptersRotorcraftRepeat actionFeb 14, 1995
- 94-24-04MD Helicopters, Inc. HelicoptersRotorcraftRepeat actionNov 28, 1994
What gets reported
21 Service Difficulty Reports since 2016: a mechanic or operator files one when a part fails or is found defective.
Systems reported most
- Turbine Engine Compressor Section3
- Tail Rotor Head2
- Fuel Control/Turbine Engines1
- Fuselage, Landing Gear Attach Fittings1
- Main Rotor Mast/Swashplate1
- Tail Rotor Gearbox1
Parts reported most
- Bearing, seized2
- Fuel control, failed1
- Fitting, worn1
- Uniball, defective1
- Bolt, sheared1
- Gear, sheared1
The latest reports
2025-10-26 · Flight Control System · Actuator, malfunctioned
Pilot reported cyclic jerked left while in forward flight and felt as if trim was in full left position. upon initial inspection of aircraft performed a functional check of trim actuators. confirmed trim motor to be correctly corresponding to inputs made to cyclic trim switch. an electrical motor activation noise could be heard when the trim switch is activated to the fwd, aft, left and right posi
2025-03-05 · Main Landing Gear Strut/Axle/Truck · Strut, broken
Left hand rear landing gear strut assembly broken at brace assembly attachment bolt during landing. other minor damage to surrounding area occurred. total time on part is unknown.
2025-02-13 · Fuselage Main, Structure · Bulkhead, damaged
Cracks and buckling found in bulkhead sta 155.75 and along tail boom fairing and turtle deck.
2024-04-08 · Fuselage, Landing Gear Attach Fittings · Fitting, worn
Found center beam landing gear fitting retainer bore worn out of limits
From the FAA's Service Difficulty Reporting System, refreshed monthly. Counts of what was reported, not failure rates: most of general aviation reports voluntarily, and a busy training fleet reports more than a private one.
Accident record
46 accidents since 2008, 14 fatal (25 people killed in them, a midair counting both aircraft), 4 aircraft destroyed.
What happened
- Loss of engine power (total)7
- Low altitude operation/event6
- Miscellaneous/other5
- Flight control sys failure3
- Loss of control in flight3
- External load event (Rotorcraft)3
Phase of flight
- Maneuvering26
- Enroute9
- Landing3
- Initial climb2
- Takeoff2
The latest
| Date | Where | What happened | Injuries | NTSB number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-27 | Haena, HI | Enroute: Flight control sys failure | Fatal | WPR26FA141 |
| 2025-12-05 | Pryor, OK | Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight | Fatal | WPR26FA054 |
| 2025-09-11 | Jim thorpe, PA | Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) | Fatal | ERA25FA344 |
| 2025-08-07 | West alton, MO | Maneuvering: Miscellaneous/other | Fatal | CEN25FA307 |
| 2024-11-05 | Waycross, GA | Maneuvering: External load event (Rotorcraft) | Minor | ERA25LA040 |
| 2024-03-18 | Belleville, WV | Maneuvering: Miscellaneous/other | Serious | ERA24LA148 |
From the NTSB's aviation accident database, refreshed monthly; accidents only, homebuilts left out. Counts, not rates: nobody publishes how many hours each model flies, and a training fleet flies far more than a private one. Look up any case by its number in the NTSB's CAROL.
What it costs to run
Per hour flown
Per year, flown or not
- Fuel
- $0/hr
- Engine reserve
- $0/hr
- A year
- $0
- All in, per hour
- $0/hr
Everything else is yours to fill in: insurance, hangar and overhaul prices vary too much by pilot, airport and shop for a default to mean anything. Nothing you type leaves this page.
Before you buy one
- Run its N-number through the AD check: every AD that names its airframe and engine, as a checklist to take to the logbooks.
- For each repeat-action AD (15 on the airframe), find the last compliance in the logbooks and when the next one is due.
- Compare the engine's time since overhaul with its maker's published overhaul time, and look for the reason behind any long gap in flying.
- Ask the mechanic doing the pre-buy to look hard at the turbine engine compressor section and for seized bearings: they are what gets reported most on this model.
- 3 equipment ADs name the 369D (a muffler, a seat belt, a display): find out which of that equipment is installed.
- Check the registration, the airworthiness certificate and the date of the last annual inspection.
- Work out the sales or use tax your state will charge with the aircraft tax calculator.
The rest of the 369 family
Questions
- How many Hughes 369Ds are registered in the US?
- 206, in the FAA aircraft registry.
- When was the Hughes 369D built?
- From about 1976 to 1988. Half of those registered today were built by 1979.
- What engine does the Hughes 369D have?
- Most have the Rolls-Royce 250 (86% of those registered).
- What are common problems with the Hughes 369D?
- In 21 Service Difficulty Reports filed with the FAA since 2016, the systems reported most were turbine engine compressor section, tail rotor head, fuel control/turbine engines, and the part most often reported was a seized bearing.
- How many accidents has the Hughes 369D had?
- 46 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 14 of them fatal. The most common defining event was loss of engine power (total). These are counts, not rates: how many hours the fleet flew is not published.
- How many Airworthiness Directives does the Hughes 369D have?
- 61 current ADs name the 369D airframe, 15 of them with a repeat action, and 53 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.
Figures from the FAA aircraft registry and the FAA's Airworthiness Directives, rebuilt daily. An AD listed for a model is one to read; whether it applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number, equipment and records.