19960219001929A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Hughes 369D · Deweese, NE · February 19, 1996

Date: February 19, 1996 · 14:55 local
Place: Deweese, NE
Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N5141Y
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI96FA091
Reported as: Hughes 369D
Reported engine: Allison 250C20B
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 2

N5141YRegistration cancelled Apr 7, 1997 · Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369DS/N 1114D Airframe modelHughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D

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.

Crashed into power line and struck a tower that was being constructed. (.4) the helicopter was being used to place workers and rigging on top of a transmission tower. This was the pilot's third flight in this type of operation. He was previously instructed that landing on the 'bridge' of the tower was not a desired place to land the helicopter. He briefed the work crew indicating that he would let them out on the 'goats peak' and not land on the bridge. The helicopter was then observed to takeoff and put one worker off on the north 'goats peak;' however, instead of putting the other worker off on the south 'goats peak' the helicopter was observed to land on the 'bridge.' After the worker and rigging were off loaded, the helicopter was seen to back off the 'bridge.' At that time the main rotor system was seen to strike the tower structure and then the helicopter descended to impact the terrain. The wind was estimated by witnesses (at the surface) to be from the southwest at 15 knots.

As the FAA filed it

CRASHED INTO POWER LINE AND STRUCK A TOWER THAT WAS BEING CONSTRUCTED. (.4) THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED TO PLACE WORKERS AND RIGGING ON TOP OF A TRANSMISSION TOWER. THIS WAS THE PILOT'S THIRD FLIGHT IN THIS TYPE OF OPERATION. HE WAS PREVIOUSLY INSTRUCTED THAT LANDING ON THE 'BRIDGE' OF THE TOWER WAS NOT A DESIRED PLACE TO LAND THE HELICOPTER. HE BRIEFED THE WORK CREW INDICATING THAT HE WOULD LET THEM OUT ON THE 'GOATS PEAK' AND NOT LAND ON THE BRIDGE. THE HELICOPTER WAS THEN OBSERVED TO TAKEOFF AND PUT ONE WORKER OFF ON THE NORTH 'GOATS PEAK;' HOWEVER, INSTEAD OF PUTTING THE OTHER WORKER OFF ON THE SOUTH 'GOATS PEAK' THE HELICOPTER WAS OBSERVED TO LAND ON THE 'BRIDGE.' AFTER THE WORKER AND RIGGING WERE OFF LOADED, THE HELICOPTER WAS SEEN TO BACK OFF THE 'BRIDGE.' AT THAT TIME THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM WAS SEEN TO STRIKE THE TOWER STRUCTURE AND THEN THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED TO IMPACT THE TERRAIN. THE WIND WAS ESTIMATED BY WITNESSES (AT THE SURFACE) TO BE FROM THE SOUTHWEST AT 15 KNOTS.

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 CHI96FA091Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportDweese, NEthe pilot's improper in-flight planning and decision, and his lack of total experience in the type of operation. A factor was the crosswind.Feb 19, 1996 · Destroyed