# Accident 20140902016589A: Hughes 369D, Willows, CA, September 2, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 2, 2014, 13:07 local time
- Place: Willows, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: AWTL
- Location: 39.5242° N, 122.2492° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5242&lon=-122.2492&mi=10
- Aircraft: N516PJ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N516PJ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D (registry code 4470706, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C20 series (registry code 03020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250-C20 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 22,100 total, 140 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR14CA363](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA363) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140902016589A

## Narrative

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

PILOT DEPARTED LZ NEAR WILLOWS TO FLY THE 2.8 MILES TO WILLOWS AIPORT (KWLW) TO USE THE BATHROOM. AFTER LANDING, HE SHUT DOWN THE AIRCRAFT. AFTER DEPARTING THE AIRPORT EN ROUTE BACK TO THE LZ, AT 1:04PM HE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND SUDDEN VIBRATION AS THE HELICOPTER SUDDENLY YAWED AND THREW OFF HIS HEADING. HE WAS CRUISING AT AN ESTIMATED 80 KNOTS AND 300? AGL. AFTER FEELING THE VIBRATION HE DECREASED COLLECTIVE AND POSITIONED THE AIRCRAFT TO ARREST HIS FALL AS HE NO LONGER HAD EFFECTIVE USE OF HIS TAIL ROTOR. HE DESCENDED TO AN ESTIMATED 40 FEET AND POSITIONED FOR IMPACT INTO THE ALMOND ORCHARD AFTER DETERMINING HE COULD NOT MAKE IT TO A FLAT LANDING LOCATION. AS THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED INTO THE ALMOND TREES, HE PULLED ON THE COLLECTIVE TO GENERATE ADDITIONAL LIFT AND MINIMIZE IMPACT UPON LANDING. AFTER LANDING HE SHUTOFF THE THROTTLE AND EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AND CRAWLED TO SAFETY WHICH IS WHERE HE WAS FOUND AND INITIALLY TREATED BY THE EMT?S.  PILOT WAS TAKEN VIA AMBULANCE TO WILLOWS AIRPORT AND THEN FLOWN TO THE HOSPITAL BY LIFT FLIGHT.

FINDINGS:

UPON REVIEW OF THE AREA SURROUNDING THE CRASH, A JACKET WAS FOUND THAT BELONGED TO THE PILOT. THE JACKET WAS STOWED IN THE PILOTS BACKPACK IN THE BACKSEAT OF THE AIRCRAFT. BOTH AFT DOORS AND THE PASSENGER FORWARD DOOR WERE ON AND SECURED, ALTHOUGH ALL VENTS/WINDOWS WERE OPEN. THE WIND PASSING THROUGH THE CABIN WAS ENOUGH TO THREAD THE PILOTS JACKET OUT THROUGH THE WINDOW OF THE BACK LEFT REAR DOOR. THE JACKET THEN HIT THE TAILROTOR, CAUSING SUDDEN STOPPAGE AND SUBSEQUENT SHEERING OF THE TAILROTOR DRIVE SHAFT. THE PILOT COMPLETED THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURS LAND THE HELICOPTER AND MINIMIZE DAMAGE.

## 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 WPR14CA363](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA363), Sep 2, 2014: Hughes 369D (N516PJ), Willows, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to adequately secure cargo (a jacket), which resulted in the jacket exiting the cabin compartment and colliding with the tail rotor during cruise flight.

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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