# Accident 20170810010359A: Hughes 369D, Villa Grove, CO, August 10, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 10, 2017, 15:05 local time
- Place: Villa Grove, CO
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: Y30L
- Location: 38.2544° N, 105.9478° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2544&lon=-105.9478&mi=10
- Aircraft: N58424, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N58424-2020-01-17) (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
- Pilot flight hours: 20,000 total, 16,000 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN17LA314](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA314) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170810010359A

## Narrative

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

ON AUGUST 10, 2017 A HUGES 369D HELICOPTER INADVERTENTLY CONTACTED A POWERLINE POLE WITH ITS TAIL ROTOR, CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL AND IMPACTED THE GROUND.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PILOT WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT ONBOARD AND SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES.  THE WEATHER WAS VMC WITH LIGHT WINDS AND GREATER THAN 10 MILES VISABLITY.  THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED FOR CONSTRUCTION WORK STRINGING NEW POWER LINE CABLE.

## 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 CEN17LA314](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA314), Aug 10, 2017: Hughes 369D (N58424), Villa Grove, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain main rotor clearance from a power line tower during low-level maneuvering.

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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