19981208032939A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Hughes 369D · Queets, WA · December 8, 1998

Date: December 8, 1998 · 11:55 local
Place: Queets, WA
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
Operator: GHHL
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N1096L
NTSB investigation: NTSBSEA99FA018
Reported as: Hughes 369D
Reported engine: Allison 250C20
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 22,000 total

N1096LRegistration cancelled Nov 19, 2014 · Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369DS/N 800789D · Built 1980 Airframe modelHughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D Engine modelAllison 250 SER 250HPTurbo-shaft

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.

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 time, a Hughes 369D, N1096L, registered to and operated by eagle air helicopters as a 14 CFR part 133 external load operation, experienced a loss of engine power. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, initiated a forced landing five miles north of tahola, Washington. During the landing, the helicopter collided with trees and rolled over. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. There was no report of an ELT actuating. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The pilot received minor injuries. The flight originated from the forks airport (S18) approximately three hours and 45 minutes prior to the accident. A witness reported hearing a loud bang followed by the engine spooling down. The witness also reported seeing smoke coming from the engine as the helicopter descended through the trees.

As the FAA filed it

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 TIME, A HUGHES 369D, N1096L, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY EAGLE AIR HELICOPTERS AS A 14 CFR PART 133 EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION, EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, WHO WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT, INITIATED A FORCED LANDING FIVE MILES NORTH OF TAHOLA, WASHINGTON. DURING THE LANDING, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TREES AND ROLLED OVER. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THERE WAS NO REPORT OF AN ELT ACTUATING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE FORKS AIRPORT (S18) APPROXIMATELY THREE HOURS AND 45 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. A WITNESS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD BANG FOLLOWED BY THE ENGINE SPOOLING DOWN. THE WITNESS ALSO REPORTED SEEING SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AS THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED THROUGH THE TREES.

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 SEA99FA018Accident · Minor injuriesField investigationFinal reportTaholah, WATurbine wheel failure as the result of a low-cycle fatigue crack that initiated in a beyond-limits grinding gouge. Factors include improper maintenance by unknown parties and tree stumps that prohibited a successful emergency landing.Dec 8, 1998 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N1096L · 3

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

Accident 19980810020269ANormal Cruise · Darrington, WAHelicopter 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…Aug 10, 1998 · Substantial damage Incident 19841113076319INormal Cruise · Humtulips, WASling rope broke and hook became entangled in main rotor. Rope wrapped around and severed tail boom.Nov 13, 1984 · Destroyed Accident 19820519017419AHovering · Birkenfeld, ORLow fuel light flickered. Began landing for fuel. Engine quit. Struck hillside. No usable fuel in tank.May 19, 1982 · Substantial damage