# Accident 20090722014469A: Hughes 369D, Uniontown, PA, July 22, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 22, 2009, 11:29 local time
- Place: Uniontown, PA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: UTLL
- Location: 39.8069° N, 79.6828° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8069&lon=-79.6828&mi=10
- Aircraft: N61735, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61735-2014-01-06) (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 250C20R2
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,844 total, 1,252 in this make and model, 72 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA09FA414](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09FA414) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090722014469A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT WAS PERFORMING GEOPHYSICAL SEISMIC SURVEY AND WAS ENROUTE TO STAGING AREA FOR FUEL.  AIRCRAFT CRASHED APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE SHORT OF THE STAGING AREA.  THE HELICOPTER CRASHED AND CAME TO REST IN AN UPRIGHT NORMAL ATTITUDE WITH A SLIGHT LEAN TO THE LEFT DUE TO COMPRESSION WITH THE TERRAIN.  INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AUXILIARY FUEL TANK BLADDERS APPEARED TO BE EMPTY.  THE UNDERBELLY AND TAIL BOOM OF THE HELICOPTER APPEARED TO HAVE NO FUEL RESIDUE THAT WOULD INDICATE A FUEL LEAK.  THE INTERNAL STRUCTURE LOWER SKIN APPEARED TO HAVE NO FUEL THAT WOULD INDICATE A FUEL LEAK.  THE FUEL NOZZLE LINE HAD APPROXIMATELY TWO DROPS OF FUEL, AND THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY ONE THIRD OF A CUP OF FUEL IN THE AIRFRAME FUEL FILTER AND PLUMBING LEADING TO THE FUEL PUMP.  THE TERRAIN BELOW THE AIRCRAFT EXHIBITED NO APPARENT FUEL.  EXTERNAL LOAD CONSISTED OF 4 BAGS AND ASSOCIATED HARDWARE WEIGHING APPROXIMATELY 1200 POUNDS.

## 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 ERA09FA414](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09FA414), Jul 22, 2009: Hughes 369 (N61735), Franklin, PA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's fuel mismanagement.

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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