Turbine helicopter

N501VS

1977 Hughes 500D

Registered 1 NTSB/FAA record
Built
1977
Serial
170050D
Class
Turbine helicopter
Engines
Allison 250-C20B
Status
Current as of October 2026
Registered owner
Vertol Systems Co Inc (Corporation)
Based
Destin, FL
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1977 Hughes 500D
Representative photo of a Hughes 500D. Not a photo of N501VS.
Registration record

N501VS on the FAA register

Type
1977 Hughes 500D (FAA: Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D)
Serial
170050D
Engines
Allison 250-C20B
Registered owner
Vertol Systems Co Inc
Destin, FL
Certificate issued
2015-04-29
Airworthiness date
2015-05-13
Registration expires
2028-04-30
Airworthiness class
Standard · normal
Mode S (hex)
A63F93
Mode S (octal)
51437623
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

  • 2028-04-30
    Registration expires (renewal due).
  • 2018-02-19
    Accident at Pacific Ocean, PO; damage: substantial.
  • 2015-05-13
    Airworthiness date on the current FAA record (standard category (normal)).
  • 2015-04-29
    Certificate of registration issued as N501VS.
  • 1977
    Manufactured (1977).
Overview

About N501VS

N501VS is a 1977 Hughes 500D (FAA model HUGHES 369D), serial number 170050D. The FAA register lists Vertol Systems Co Inc as the registrant in Destin, Florida. The current certificate of registration was issued on April 29, 2015 and expires on April 30, 2028.

The FAA aircraft reference file describes the type as a turbine helicopter, one Allison 250-C20B 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 standard category (normal), dated May 13, 2015.

N501VS 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

2018-02-19 Accident · Pacific Ocean, PO Damage: Substantial Minor injury NTSB · WPR18CA100
Reported aircraft: Hughes 369D
Probable cause: An in-flight mechanical malfunction with the helicopter, which necessitated a ditching in the ocean. The reason for the malfunction could be determined because the helicopter sank and was not recovered.

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 Florida· 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.