19860706030379A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Hughes 369D · Fall River, MA · July 6, 1986

Date: July 6, 1986 · 23:00 local
Place: Fall River, MA
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N4237D
NTSB investigation: NTSBNYC86LA174
Reported as: Hughes 369D
Reported engine: Allison 250C18B
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 700 total700 in this make and model25 in the last 90 days

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Encountered fog and haze at night, lost control. Helicopter went into right spin into pond. Spatial disorientation

As the FAA filed it

ENCOUNTERED FOG AND HAZE AT NIGHT, LOST CONTROL. HELICOPTER WENT INTO RIGHT SPIN INTO POND. SPATIAL DISORIENTATION

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB NYC86LA174Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportFall River, MAThe flight encountered fog and haze during return flight to new bedford, Massachusetts. The pilot failed to maintain direction control of the helicopter and crashed into the north watuppa pond.Jul 7, 1986 · Substantial damage