# Accident 20151103022389A: Hughes 369D, Sedro Wooley, WA, November 3, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 3, 2015, 13:52 local time
- Place: Sedro Wooley, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: GILL
- Location: 48.4164° N, 121.9828° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4164&lon=-121.9828&mi=10
- Aircraft: N510PA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N510PA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D (registry code 4470706, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20B (registry code 54385, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250-C20B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,090 total, 180 in this make and model, 180 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR16LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA021) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151103022389A

## Narrative

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

ON NOVEMBER 3, 2015, A HUGHES 369D HELICOPTER, N510PA, EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING AND SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. THE FLIGHT WAS BEING OPERATED UNDER PART 133 BY OLYMPIC AIR, INC, GILL.

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS CONDUCTING SLING OPERATIONS USING A 50-FOOT LINE TO GATHER CEDAR PIECES. AFTER ABOUT 30 TO 40 SLINGS, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION BUT WAS UNABLE TO LAND ON LEVEL TERRAIN AND THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN ON THE SIDE OF A HILL. THE TAILBOOM IMPACTED FIRST, FOLLOWED BY THE SKIDS AT WHICH POINT THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED ON TO ITS SIDE.

THE PILOT WAS THE ONLY PERSON ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT AND WAS UNINJURED. LOCAL CREW ON THE GROUND ASSISTED THE PILOT IN EXITING THE HELICOPTER.

## 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 WPR16LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA021), Nov 3, 2015: MD Helicopter 369D (N510PA), Sedro-Woolley, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of naphthenate fuel contamination, which blocked the fuel flow through the start pump.

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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