# Accident 20181102021389A: Hughes 369D, Mcdougal, AR, November 2, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 2, 2018, 14:15 local time
- Place: Mcdougal, AR
- Airport: Corning Arkansas
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: X2RL
- Location: 36.4367° N, 90.4525° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4367&lon=-90.4525&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5187S, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5187S-2022-06-14) (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: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C20B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,268 total, 2,200 in this make and model, 99 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN19FA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA020) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181102021389A

## Narrative

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

ON NOVEMBER 2, 2018 A MD369 HELICOPTER N5187S/N454AR, S/N610968D OPERATED BY AIR 2 LLC CERTIFICATE NUMBER X2RL798I CRASHED IN MCDOUGAL ARKANSAS. AT 1253, THE POPLAR CARTERSVILLE (POF), POPLAR BLUFF, MISSOURI, AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVATION SYSTEM, LOCATED 21 MILES NORTH OF CRASH SIGHT REPORTED THE FOLLOWING WEATHER CONDITIONS: WINDS FROM 220º AT 14 KNOTS GUSTING TO 19. THE MAIN WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED AT N36°26?12.07? W-90°27?9.31? ON THE NORTH SIDE OF STEEL UTILITY POWER POLE  IN A MUDDY SOYBEAN FIELD. THIS AREA OF THE FIELD WAS FLOODED WITH APPROXIMATELY 2 FEET OF WATER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT DUE TO HEAVY RAINS. THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND ON THE RIGHT SIDE, PRIOR TO IMPACTING THE GROUND, THE HELICOPTER MAIN ROTOR BLADES IMPACTED THE TOP OF THE STEEL UTILITY POWER POLE. A DRONE WAS USED TO OBSERVE THE IMPACT DAMAGE, SHOWING AN INWARD INDENTATION AT THE TOP OF THE POLE. THE TOP CAP PLATE OF THE TOWER WAS FOUND STUCK IN THE MUD 20 YARDS SOUTH OF THE POLE. THERE WAS A GASH IN THE PLATE. THE AIRFRAME EXHIBITED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT SIDE. THE AFT FUSELAGE WAS SEPARATED. THE TAIL BOOM ASSEMBLY WAS SEPARATED INTO THREE PIECES WITH IMPACT DAMAGE CONSISTENT WITH A MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRIKE. THE PILOT LOST HIS LIFE. THE TWO LINEMEN WERE TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL AND LATER RELEASED.

OCTOBER 5, 2018, NTSB, FAA, MD HELICOPTERS, ROLLS-ROYCE ENGINES, AIR2, AND BOEING MET AT DAWSON AIRCRAFT TO COMPLETE A WRECKAGE LAYOUT AND EXAMINATION.

## 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 CEN19FA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA020), Nov 2, 2018: Hughes 369 (N5187S), McDougal, AR, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain the helicopter's clearance from the powerline structure while hovering in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in an inadvertent collision with the structure and an…

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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