20031208036719A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Hughes 369D · Moclips, WA · December 8, 2003

Date: December 8, 2003 · 12:00 local
Place: Moclips, WA
Phase of flight: Climb
Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N8343F
NTSB investigation: NTSBSEA04LA025
Reported as: Hughes 369D
Reported engine: Allison 250C20B
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 0 total0 in this make and model0 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.

(-23) Rotorcraft was performing an external load operation (cedar shake bolt blocks). Rotorcraft had landed, refueled and ran for approximately 15 minutes prior to resuming operation. Aircraft had made approximately four lifts prior to the accident. Rotorcraft lost power and the pilot jettisoned the load of shake bolt blocks and cable. Pilot reported over the radio that he was going down.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ROTORCRAFT WAS PERFORMING AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION (CEDAR SHAKE BOLT BLOCKS). ROTORCRAFT HAD LANDED, REFUELED AND RAN FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO RESUMING OPERATION. AIRCRAFT HAD MADE APPROXIMATELY FOUR LIFTS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. ROTORCRAFT LOST POWER AND THE PILOT JETTISONED THE LOAD OF SHAKE BOLT BLOCKS AND CABLE. PILOT REPORTED OVER THE RADIO THAT HE WAS GOING DOWN.

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 SEA04LA025Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMoclips, WAA sudden loss of engine power during hover for undetermined reasons.Dec 8, 2003 · Substantial damage