Turbine helicopter

N500EK

1979 Hughes 500D

Registered 1 NTSB/FAA record
Built
1979
Serial
1190610D
Class
Turbine helicopter
Engines
Allison 250-C20
Status
Current as of October 2026
Registered owner
Kar Aviation LLC (LLC)
Based
Saltville, VA
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1979 Hughes 500D
Representative photo of a Hughes 500D. Not a photo of N500EK.
Registration record

N500EK on the FAA register

Type
1979 Hughes 500D (FAA: Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D)
Serial
1190610D
Engines
Allison 250-C20
Registered owner
Kar Aviation LLC
Saltville, VA
Certificate issued
2026-09-28
Airworthiness date
2008-03-12
Registration expires
2033-09-30
Airworthiness class
Multiple
Mode S (hex)
A63A5E
Mode S (octal)
51435136
Seats (type)
4
Weight class
up to 12,499 lb
Range (type)
232 nm
Cruise (type)
125 kt
Status
Current as of October 2026
Registry history

Timeline

  • 2033-09-30
    Registration expires (renewal due).
  • 2026-09-28
    Certificate of registration issued as N500EK.
  • 2008-03-12
    Airworthiness date on the current FAA record (multiple category).
  • 2002-09-17
    Accident at O'Neill, NE; damage: substantial.
  • 1979
    Manufactured (1979).
Overview

About N500EK

N500EK is a 1979 Hughes 500D (FAA model HUGHES 369D), serial number 1190610D. The FAA register lists Kar Aviation LLC as the registrant in Saltville, Virginia. The current certificate of registration was issued on September 28, 2026 and expires on September 30, 2033.

The FAA aircraft reference file describes the type as a turbine helicopter, one Allison 250-C20 engine and 4 seats. Published figures for the type give a cruise speed of about 125 knots and a range of about 232 nm; actual performance depends on configuration, load and conditions. Its airworthiness certificate is multiple category, dated March 12, 2008.

N500EK has 1 accident/incident record on file (most serious damage: substantial); details are below.

Cruise
125 kt
Range
232 nm
Fuel burn
12 gph

Published figures for the Hughes 500D type. They describe the model, not this airframe's equipment or condition.

Safety record

Accident & incident history

2002-09-17 Accident · O'Neill, NE Damage: Substantial Minor injury NTSB · CHI02LA285
Reported aircraft: Hughes 369D
Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to turbine blade separation as a result of hot corrosion damage to the turbine blades. Contributing to the accident was the pilot misjudging the flare at the completion of the autorotation resulting in a hard landing. The dark night was a factor.

Sources: NTSB aviation accident database and CAROL case system, FAA preliminary accident & incident notices. Search accident records

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Browse: Aircraft registered in Virginia· Registry by state· FAA registry stats

Data: FAA Aircraft Registry (October 2026), including deregistered aircraft; NTSB and FAA accident data; fyiAero listing history. Individual owners' names are shown to signed-in users and street addresses are never shown. Type figures are published specifications, not this aircraft's.