# Accident 20091012019499A: Hughes 369FF, Fossil, OR, October 12, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 12, 2009, 09:36 local time
- Place: Fossil, OR
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: 25PL
- Location: 44.8531° N, 119.9378° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8531&lon=-119.9378&mi=10
- Aircraft: N527SH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N527SH-2016-06-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mcdonnell Douglas Heli 369FF (registry code 3027371, https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-heli-369ff) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369FF
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C30
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,200 total, 240 in this make and model, 154 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR10FA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA012) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091012019499A

## Narrative

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

WHILE PULLING POWERLINE LEADER ROPE (SOCK LINE) FROM ONE POLE TO ANOTHER POWER POLE, AIRCRAFT STRUCK TOP OF POLE WITH MAIN ROTOR BLADES.  WITNESS SAW HELICOPTER SLOWLY SINK ONTO THE POLE WITH SLIGHT COUNTERCLOCKWISE YAW THEN SAW HELICOPTER MAIN ROTORS STRIKE THE TOP OF THE POLE, THE TAIL ROTOR DEPARTED, AIRCRAFT THEN FELL TO THE GROUND, CAME TO REST BELOW AND NEAR THE POLE.  SECOND WITNESS CLOSET TO THE HELICOPTER HEARD NO CHANGE IN ENGINE NOISE OR ROTOR NOISE UNTIL HE HEARD THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES HIT THE POLE AND WHEN HE LOOKED THE HELICOPTER WAS FALLING TO THE GROUND.  MAIN ROTOR BLADE CAME THROUGH THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT COCKPIT.  MAIN ROTOR BLADE CUT THE TAIL BOOM OFF.

## 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 WPR10FA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA012), Oct 12, 2009: Mcdonnell Douglas Heli 369FF (N527SH), Fossil, OR, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a power pole to which he was connecting wire-pulling ropes.

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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