# Accident 20090501007159A: Hughes 369FF, Santa Clarita, CA, May 1, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 1, 2009, 15:30 local time
- Place: Santa Clarita, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: M55L
- Location: 34.4667° N, 118.6333° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4667&lon=-118.6333&mi=10
- Aircraft: N67FF, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N67FF) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mcdonnell Douglas Heli 369FF (registry code 3027371, https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-heli-369ff) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250 20&30 series (registry code 54584, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-20-30-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369FF
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C30
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,000 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR09LA226](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA226) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090501007159A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON MAY 1, 2009, N67FF WAS HOVERING TEN FEET ABOVE THE BOUQUET RESERVOIR, WITH FORTY FEET OF LONG LINE AND A GRIPELING HOOK UNDER THE WATER SURFACE.  N67FF WAS DOWN LOW TRYING TO USE BLADE WASH TO PUSH A FLOATING LUNCH BOX TOWARD THE SHORE.  WHILE SIDE SLIPPING TOWARD THE SHORE THE PILOT REPORTED A SHORT VIBRATION AND THE LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR AUTHORITY.  N67FF TURNED TWICE BEFORE THE THROTTLE WAS REDUCED AND THE ROTATIONS STOPPED.  AN AUTO ROTATION LANDING WAS PERFORMED ON THE SHORE LINE, N67FF LANDED UP RIGHT WITH NO INJURIES.

## 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 WPR09LA226](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA226), May 1, 2009: MD Helicopter 369FF (N67FF), Santa Clarita, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the water while maneuvering at low altitude as a result of the helicopter's grappling hook temporarily becoming ensnared with an underwater obstruction.

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.