# Accident 19980810020269A: Hughes 369D, Darrington, WA, August 10, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 10, 1998, 10:00 local time
- Place: Darrington, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: GHHL
- Location: 48.1804° N, 121.6695° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1804&lon=-121.6695&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1096L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1096L-2014-11-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D (registry code 4470706, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 SER 250HP (registry code 03002, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20B
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA98LA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA160) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980810020269A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

HELICOPTER CRASHED WHEN THE TAIL ROTOR FAILED WHILE PERFORMING LOGGING OPERATION. (-23) SEE ATTACHED. NO NARRATIVE ATTACHED.                                 (.19) ON AUGUST 10, 1998, APPROXIMATELY 1000 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A MCDONNELL DOUGLAS 500D HELICOPTER, N1096L, REGISTERED TO AND BEING OPERATED BY EAGLE AIR HELICOPTERS, INC., AND BEING FLOWN BY A COMMERCIAL PILOT, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN THE TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBLY DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE FLIGHT, WHICH HAD JUST DEPARTED A STAGING SITE, WAS EN ROUTE DOWNSLOPE TO THE WORK SITE WHERE THE PILOT WOULD BE LIFTING AND TRANSPORTING SHAKE BLOCKS. THE FLIGHT WAS TO HAVE BEEN OPERATED UNDER 14CFR133. THE PILOT REPORTED HEARING A "BANG" AND THEN SAW AN OBJECT DEPART FROM THE HELICOPTER. IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN ROTATING ABOUT ITS VERTICAL AXIS. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING IN A CLEAR-CUT AREA DURING WHICH THE AIRCRAFT WAS FURTHER DAMAGED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB SEA98LA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA160), Aug 10, 1998: McDonnell Douglas 369D (N1096L), Oso, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The separation of the 90 degree gearbox and tail rotor assembly for undetermined reasons followed by the inability of the pilot-in-command to maintain control of the rotorcraft.

## Other reports on N1096L (3)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19981208032939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981208032939A), Dec 8, 1998: Hughes 369D (N1096L), Queets, WA, Substantial damage. Hughes 369D helicopter was lifting an external load of shingles when it flew into a tree and crashed. (.19) on December 8, 1998, about 1145 pacific standard…
- [Incident 19841113076319I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841113076319I), Nov 13, 1984: Hughes 369D (N1096L), Humtulips, WA, Destroyed. Sling rope broke and hook became entangled in main rotor. Rope wrapped around and severed tail boom.
- [Accident 19820519017419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820519017419A), May 19, 1982: Hughes 369D (N1096L), Birkenfeld, OR, Substantial damage. Low fuel light flickered. Began landing for fuel. Engine quit. Struck hillside. No usable fuel in tank.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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