# Accident 20121207028009A: Hughes 369D, Mt. Wilson, CA, December 7, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 7, 2012, 09:30 local time
- Place: Mt. Wilson, CA
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.2250° N, 118.1025° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2250&lon=-118.1025&mi=10
- Aircraft: N818CE (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250 SER 250HP
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 11,896 total, 556 in this make and model, 99 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR13CA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA071) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121207028009A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT WAS NEAR MT. WILSON CALIFORNIA IN CRUISE FLIGHT WITH THE DOORS REMOVED.  A PAIR OF UNSUCURED HEADSETS DEPARTED THE CABIN AND IMPACTED THE TAIL ROTOR (T/R).  AIRCRAFT LANDED SAFELY.  T/R DAMAGE AND TWISTING EVIDENCE ON T/R DRIVE SHAFT REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF T/R, T/R GEAR BOX, AND T/R DRIVE SHAFT.  THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED.

## 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 WPR13CA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA071), Dec 7, 2012: Hughes 369 (N818CE), Pasadena, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: An unsecured headset, which struck the leading edge of a tail rotor blade. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate safety briefing.

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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