# Accident 20070606008269A: Hughes 369D, Troy, OR, June 6, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 6, 2007, 05:50 local time
- Place: Troy, OR
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: VLHA
- Location: 45.9332° N, 117.4547° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9332&lon=-117.4547&mi=10
- Aircraft: N48MP, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N48MP) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D (registry code 4470706, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20B (registry code 54385, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 14,000 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA07LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA147) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070606008269A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON JUNE 6, 2007 THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS ACTING AS PILOT IN COMMAND OF N48MP A HUGHES 369 HELICOPTER PERFORMING GAME CAPTURE FOR THE OREGON STATE DEPARTURE OF FISH & WILDLIFE. THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ IS THE OWNER OF VALLEY HELICOPTERS INC. DBA: LEADING EDGE AVIATION OF CLARKSTON, WASHINGTON, AND A FAA 135 AIR CARRIER. THE PURPOSE OF THIS FLIGHT WAS NET GUNNING ELK CAVES FROM THE HELICOPTER IN AN AREA LOCATED TWO MILES EAST OF TROY, OREGON. IN AN INTERVIEW THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT HE HAD LANDED AFTER HIS COMPANY'S NET GUNNER, SEATED IN THE LEFT REAR SEAT OF THE HELICOPTER HAD NET CAPTURED AN ELK CALF. THE OTHER PASSENGER FROM THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH & WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT UNBUCKLED THE FRONT RIGHT SEAT OF THE HELICOPTER AND CLIMBED OUT OF THE HELICOPTER TO ATTEND TO THE ANIMAL. AFTER THE PASSENGER DEPARTED THE HELICOPTER THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DEPARTED IN THE HELICOPTER VERTICALLY TO AN ALTITUDE OF 15 FEET THEN BEGAN A LEFT HAND TURN. HE THEN NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER WAS NOT STANDING ON THE GROUND. AT THIS POINT HE SAID HE FELT A CHANGE IN THE HELICOPTER'S CONTROLS AS THE PASSENGER THAT HAD APPARENTLY BECOME ENTANGLED ON THE HELICOPTER'S RIGHT SKID TUBE AND THEN FELL OFF. THE OREGON FISH & WILDLIFE EMPLOYEE HAD FALLEN OFF THE HELICOPTER AND INTO AN APPLE TREE LOCATED AN ESTIMATED 30 FEET FROM THE TAKE-OFF POINT FROM AN ALTITUDE OF 15 FEET. AFTER THEN LANDING THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND HIS EMPLOYEE FOUND THE MAN UNCONSCIOUS ABOUT THREE FEET OFF THE GROUND IN THE TREE. THEY REMOVED THE INJURED MAN FROM THE TREE. THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THEN FLEW BY HIMSELF BACK TO THE TROY, OREGON AIRPORT TO CALL 911 FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. THE PASSENGER'S INJURIES INCLUDED A BROKEN ARM, LEG, RIBS, AND FRACTURED STERNUM. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO OHSU HOSPITAL IN PORTLAND, OREGON. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, THE INJURED PASSENGER STATED AS THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED VERTICALLY, AND HIS MICROPHONE CORD ON HIS SPH-4 MILITARY STYLE FLIGHT HELMET HAD BECOME CAUGHT ON THE HELICOPTER'S SKID. AS THE HELICOPTER WAS IN FLIGHT HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE SKID TUBE OR UNDO HIS HELMET'S CHINSTRAP. THE CORD EVENTUALLY BROKE AND HE FELL INTO THE TREE RECEIVING SUBSTANTIAL INJURIES. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^

## 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 SEA07LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA147), Jun 6, 2007: Hughes 369D (N48MP), Troy, OR, no damage. Probable cause: The inadvertent entanglement of the crewmemeber's helmet's communication cord with the structure of the helicopter during the helicopter's ascent, which resulted in the crewmember being elevated…

## Other reports on N48MP (1)

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

- [Incident 20211116020849I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211116020849I), Nov 16, 2021: Hughes 369D (N48MP), Palm Springs, CA, Minor damage. On 11/16/2021 an airman was landing in the area of north Palm Springs. The flight was conducted under part 91. The purpose was to track cattle. In the area.…

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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