# Accident 20091120023149A: Hughes 369E, Kahuku, HI, November 20, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 20, 2009, 16:32 local time
- Place: Kahuku, HI
- Airport: Turtle Bay Resort
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: K2DA
- Location: 21.7047° N, 158.0056° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.7047&lon=-158.0056&mi=10
- Aircraft: N551CR (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369E
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 6,200 total, 2,108 in this make and model, 127 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR10LA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA060) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091120023149A

## Narrative

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

PIC HAD LOADED 4 PASSENGERS ON-BOARD THE HELICOPTER.  ENGINE WAS STARTED AND SPOOLED UP TO 100 % RPM WHEN THE LEFT AFT LANDING GEAR STRUT COLLAPSED.  THE HELICOPTER WAS ON A PORTABLE LANDING PAD TRAILER.  WHEN LEFT AFT LANDING GEAR STRUT COLLAPSED IT CAUSED THE HELICOPTER TO SETTLE BACKWARD CAUSING THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES TO STRIKE THE GROUND.  THE PART THE CRACKED AT THE IDLER BOLT HOLE;  LANDING GEAR AFT LEFT STRUT P/N 369H60001-51 ASSEMBLY.  THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF CORROSION ON THE DAMAGED PARTS.  UNTIL METAL EXAMINATION IS CONDUCTED THE APPARENT DAMAGE IS FROM MATERIAL FAILURE.  THE DAMGAED LANDING GEAR STRUT ASSEMBLY HAS BEING SENT TO NTSB IIC FOR A METAL EXAMINATION.

## 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 WPR10LA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA060), Nov 20, 2009: Mcdonnell Douglas Heli 369E (N551CR), Kahuku, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The fatigue failure of the landing gear strut and maintenance personnel’s failure to perform an adequate inspection of the landing gear.

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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