# Accident 20140819015109A: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E, Tuscaloosa, AL, August 19, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 19, 2014, 11:01 local time
- Place: Tuscaloosa, AL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: OOGE
- Location: 33.4511° N, 87.3875° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4511&lon=-87.3875&mi=10
- Aircraft: N444RS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N444RS-2016-05-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E (registry code 3027369, https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-helicopter-369e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C20 series (registry code 03020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELICOPTER 369E
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250-C20 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 13,300 total, 500 in this make and model, 159 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA14FA396](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14FA396) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140819015109A

## Narrative

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

WHILE ON POWERLINE PATROL, HELICOPTER STRUCK/CONTACTED GROUND WIRE ON TOP OF TRANSMISSION LINE TOWER. BOTH THE MAIN ROTOR AND TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBLIES SEPARATED FROM FUSELAGE. FUSELAGE IMPACTED INVERTED, RESULTING IN FATAL INJURIES TO BOTH OCCUPANTS.

## 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 ERA14FA396](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14FA396), Aug 19, 2014: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E (N444RS), Northport, AL, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: An inadvertent collision with a utility wire for reasons that could not be determined from recorded data and examination of the helicopter and accident site.

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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