# Accident 20031217036429A: Hughes 369D, Wheeler, HI, December 17, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 17, 2003, 16:25 local time
- Place: Wheeler, HI
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: DBZL
- Location: 21.4836° N, 158.0439° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.4836&lon=-158.0439&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1113L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1113L-2018-01-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D (registry code 4470706, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C20 series (registry code 03020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 12,018 total, 9,039 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04LA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA116) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031217036429A

## Narrative

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

(-23) DURING LAST FLIGHT FROM FIELD SITE, PILOT ELECTED TO PICK UP AN EXTERNAL LOAD WITHOUT UTILIZING A LONG LINE. INCLUDED IN THE LOAD WERE FOUR LADDERS, ONE SIX FEET LONG, ONE EIGHT FEET LONG, AND TWO THAT WERE TWELVE FEET LONG. AFTER THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED, IT PICKED UP SPEED AND THE PILOT HEARD A BANG, AND FELT THE AIRCRAFT PITCH FORWARD AND ROLL LEFT. ONE OF THE TWELVE FOOT LADDERS HAD MOVED BACKWARDS WITH THE AIRCRAFT'S FORWARD SPEED, AND STRUCK THE TAIL ROTOR. THE TAIL ROTOR SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT ENTERED AUTOROTATION AND SUCCESSFULLY LANDED IN A RIVERBED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. THE PILOT WAS UNINJURED.

## 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 LAX04LA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA116), Dec 18, 2003: Hughes 369D (N1113L), Wahiawa, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to properly secure the external sling load, which allowed the load to shift, and subsequently strike and remove the tail rotor.

## Other reports on N1113L (3)

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

- [Accident 19930611017949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930611017949A), Jun 11, 1993: Hughes 369D (N1113L), Kahului Maui, HI, Substantial damage. Tail rotor struck a rock while herding cattle on a slope. Main rotors chopped tailboom during hard forced landing.
- [Accident 19901208053229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901208053229A), Dec 8, 1990: Hughes 369D (N1113L), Haleakla Natl P, HI, Substantial damage. Engine quit while attempting to lift animal cage,made hard autorotation landing,hit post.
- [Accident 19871113081019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871113081019A), Nov 13, 1987: Hughes 369D (N1113L), Honolulu, HI, Substantial damage. Loss of engine power during an external load operation. Impacted the ground. Cause was fuel exhaustion.

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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