# Accident 20180307001519A: Hughes 369D, Blair, WI, March 7, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 7, 2018, 14:00 local time
- Place: Blair, WI
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: 4HLL
- Location: 44.3044° N, 91.0000° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3044&lon=-91.0000&mi=10
- Aircraft: N499SL, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N499SL) (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: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C20B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 5,350 total, 3,900 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN18LA121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA121) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180307001519A

## Narrative

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

ON MARCH 7, 2018 A HUGHES 369D HELICOPTER, OPERATED BY HIGH LINE HELICOPTERS LLC WORKING OUT OF LACROSSE WISCONSIN, WAS TRANSPORTING HUMAN EXTERNAL CARGO TO SUPPORT POWER LINE REPAIR NEAR BLAIR, WISCONSIN. AT APPROXIMATELY 1400 LOCAL TIME, AT THE WORK SITE THE HELICOPTER WAS TAKING OFF WITH A CREW MEMBER ATTACHED TO A CABLE, CLIMBED OUT DRIFTED INTO A LIVE POWER LINE. THE CREW MEMBER STRUCK THE POWER LINE SERIOUSLY INJURING HIM. THE HELICOPTER WAS UNDAMAGED AND THE PILOT RECEIVED NO INJURIES. DAY VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITION PREVAILED AT THE TIME.

## 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 CEN18LA121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA121), Mar 7, 2018: Hughes 369D (N499SL), Blair, WI, no damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to recognize and compensate for hazards during the external load operation, which led to a collision between a lineman (external load) and a powerline.

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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