# Accident 20120726015289A: Hughes Helicopters Inc 369E, The Dalles, OR, July 26, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 26, 2012, 15:00 local time
- Place: The Dalles, OR
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: W9OL
- Location: 45.5883° N, 121.0350° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5883&lon=-121.0350&mi=10
- Aircraft: N427WC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N427WC-2018-02-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes Helicopters 369E (registry code 4470707, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-369e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C20 series (registry code 03020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES HELICOPTERS INC 369E
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250-C20 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 27,000 total, 6,000 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR12LA328](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA328) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120726015289A

## Narrative

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

SEVERAL WITNESS STATED THE HELICOPTER HAD JUST PICKED UP THE 3 POWER LINES AND STARTED TO PULL THE LINES WHEN THEY HEARD A LOUD "POP" AND A VERY NOTICEABLE ENGINE SPOOL DOWN.  THE PIC IMMEDIATELY RELEASED THE LINES AND TURN THE AIRCRAFT AWAY FROM THE CREW MAKING A VERY HARD LANDING ON A DOWN HILL SLOPE WITH THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT POINTED DOWN HILL.  THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED OVER CONING THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES AND SEVERING THE TAILBOOM.  THE SKIDS WHERE SHEARED OFF AND THE ENGINE WAS DISPLACED DOWN AND AFT AS A RESULT OF THE HARD LANDING.  SEVERAL OF THE WITNESS SAID THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AFTER GROUND IMPACT.

## 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 WPR12LA328](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA328), Jul 26, 2012: Hughes Helicopters 369E (N427WC), The Dalles, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, which resulted from the fuel tank supply pickup becoming unported while the helicopter was pulling power lines.

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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