# Accident 20020108000419A: Hughes 369E, Grandcoulee, WA, January 8, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 8, 2002, 14:45 local time
- Place: Grandcoulee, WA
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.2833° N, 118.6842° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.2833&lon=-118.6842&mi=10
- Aircraft: N369ET (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369E
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA02LA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA024) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020108000419A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE AIRCRAFT WAS WORKING FOR THE STATE OF WASHINGTON FISH & GAME DEPARTMENT AT THE COLVILLE INDIAN RESERVATION. THE MISSION WAS TO LIVE CAPTURE DEER WITH THE USE OF A NET GUN AND THEN ATTACH RADIO COLLARS TO THE ANIMALS. THE PILOT WAS FLYING THE AIRCRAFT ON AN UPSLOPE ANGLE, IN AN ATTEMPT TO BETTER POSITION THE AIRCRAFT ON LEVEL TERRAIN FOR THE NET GUNNER. THE GUNNER WAS SUPPOSED TO FIRE THE NET GUN WHEN THE ANIMAL WAS BELOW THE AIRCRAFT, AND NOT IN FRONT. FOR SOME REASON, THE GUNNER TOOK THE SHOT EARLY, WHEN THE DEER WAS STILL POSITIONED IN FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT, AHEAD OF THE SKID. WHEN THE NET WAS FIRED, IT AND TWO OF THE WEIGHTS WENT INTO THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM. TWO OF THE BLADES WERE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. THE PILOT MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND EXECUTED A CONTROLLED LANDING WITH POWER WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME. THE ONLY VISIBLE DAMAGE WAS ON TWO OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. THE PILOT STATED IN A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION THAT HE AND THE GUNNER DID HAVE CONTACT AND WERE TALKING TO EACH OTHER WITH THE AIRCRAFT INTERCOM. THE PILOT WAS FLYING IN THE LEFT SEAT AND THE GUNNER WAS FIRING FROM THE RIGHT SEAT.

## 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 SEA02LA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA024), Jan 8, 2002: Hughes 369E (N369ET), Grand Coulee, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The net gunner's improper decision to fire the net gun at an angle that allowed the net to become entangled in the main rotor system. A factor was foreign object damage to the main rotor blades.

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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