# Accident 20130912022659A: Hughes 369D, Kekaha, HI, September 12, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 12, 2013, 13:40 local time
- Place: Kekaha, HI
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: 3M3A
- Location: 22.1700° N, 159.6550° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=22.1700&lon=-159.6550&mi=10
- Aircraft: N519PA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N519PA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D (registry code 4470706, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C20B (registry code 03081, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250-C20B
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 4,679 total, 2,521 in this make and model, 89 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR13CA406](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA406) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130912022659A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT HAD JUST LANDED IN A REMOTE LANDING ZONE TO DROP OFF TWO PASSENGERS AND START SLINGING BUNDLES OF CAMPING GEAR OUT OF THE AREA VIA A LONG LINE.  PILOT WAS FOCUSED ON LANDING OVER THE LONGLINE TO FACILITATE HOOKUP.  RIGHT AFTER THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN AND PRIOR TO THE PILOT REDUCING ROTOR RPM, A TARP WAS BLOWN UP BY THE ROTOR WASH. THE TARP CAME DOWN THROUGH THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM, HITTING THE WIND SHIELD.  THE TARP CAUSED ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE TO LEAVE THE AIRCRAFT. THE OUT OF BALANCE CONDITION CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, SEPARATING THE TAIL BOOM AND DISPLACING THE ENGINE AND INSTRUMENT PANEL.

## 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 WPR13CA406](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA406), Sep 12, 2013: Hughes 369D (N519PA), Kalalau, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The entanglement of a tarp in the helicopter's main rotor from a nearby trash bundle.

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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