# Accident 20090310004269A: Hughes 369D, Lee, MA, March 10, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 10, 2009, 15:13 local time
- Place: Lee, MA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: X2RL
- Location: 42.2850° N, 73.2386° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2850&lon=-73.2386&mi=10
- Aircraft: N369RT, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N369RT-2012-09-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D (registry code 4470706, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 SER 250HP (registry code 03002, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,920 total, 304 in this make and model, 160 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA09LA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA194) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090310004269A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE TAIL BOOM OF THE HELICOPTER BECAME TANGLED WITH THE WIRE THAT THE HELICOPTER CREW WAS WORKING WITH.  THE WIRE BECAME CAUGHT IN THE ROTOR BLADES AND ROTOR HUB THAT RESULTED IN THE HELICOPTER CRASHING TO THE GROUND.  THE HELICOPTER WAS DESTROYED AND THE PILOT AND WORK CREW ABOARD WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED.

## 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 ERA09LA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA194), Mar 10, 2009: Hughes 369D (N369RT), Lee, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the overhead wire.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
