# Accident 20061121025419A: Hughes 369E, Jensen, UT, November 21, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 21, 2006, 12:50 local time
- Place: Jensen, UT
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.3606° N, 109.3364° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3606&lon=-109.3364&mi=10
- Aircraft: N500FU, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N500FU-2007-06-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes Helicopters 369E (registry code 4470707, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-369e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 SER 250HP (registry code 03002, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369E
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 7,770 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA07LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA021) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061121025419A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON NOV. 21, 2006, AT 1250 MST, A HUGHES 369E, N500FU, CRASHED AND WAS DESTROYED AFTER STRIKING HIGH TENSION WIRES, APPROX 2 MILES N.E. OF JENSEN, UT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS PERFORMING AERIAL SURVEILLANCE, (SEARCH AND RESCUE) FOR THE UINTAH CO. SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. THE HELICOPTER WAS OWNED BY MARTIN DRILLING OF VERNAL, UT AND PILOTED BY AN EMPLOYEE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND 1 PASSENGER ^PRIVACY D^ A DEPUTY SHERIFF AS AN OBSERVER. ^PRIVACY^ WAS KILLED, AND THE PILOT ^PRIVACY^ SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM VERNAL, UT (VEL) AT 1230 MST AND FLEW DIRECTLY TO THE BRIDGE THAT CROSSES THE GREEN RIVER ON HWY 40. THE HELICOPTER TURNED SOUTH (DOWNSTREAM), ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE RIVER, OVERFLEW THE WIRES, APPROX 1/2 MILE, MADE A LH TURN TO THE NORTH, OVERFLEW THE WIRES AND A TOWER THAT SAT ON BLUFF OVERLOOKING THE RIVER ON THE EAST SIDE, THEN THE HELO MADE ANOTHER LH TURN ABOVE THE BRIDGE, TRAVELING ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE RIVER, AND STRUCK THE WIRES. THE AIRCRAFT SNAGGED THE WIRES CUTTING 2, WITH THE ROTOR MAST, AND TAIL ROTOR, THEN CONTINUED DOWN AND STRUCK THE EAST BANK, AND BOUNCED INTO THE RIVER. THE HELICOPTER ENDED UP FACING WEST ON ITS RT SIDE,                10 FEET OFFSHORE, HALF SUBMERGED.

## 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 SEA07LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA021), Nov 21, 2006: Hughes 369E (N500FU), Jensen, UT, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the transmission wires due to an inadquate visual lookout while maneuvering during a search and rescue flight.

## Other reports on N500FU (1)

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

- [Accident 20050817018229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050817018229A), Aug 17, 2005: Hughes 369E (N500FU), Donnelly, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) On landing at cabin in the woods located in the mountains, the pilot experienced a brown out caused by the dust and dirt from the landing pad. The pilot…

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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