# Accident 20200425006529A: Hughes 369D, Pylesville, MD, April 25, 2020 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: April 25, 2020, 12:40 local time - Place: Pylesville, MD - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Hover/Holding - Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133) - Operator: HXFL - Location: 39.6972° N, 76.3928° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6972&lon=-76.3928&mi=10 - Aircraft: N9159F, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9159F) (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: 0 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot - Pilot flight hours: 12,408 total, 8,500 in this make and model, 141 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA20LA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA160) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200425006529A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. AT APPROXIMATELY 12:40PM ON 4/25/20 THE AIRCRAFT WAS INVOLVED IN REPOSITIONING A HIGH TENSION POWER LINE VIA LONG LINE EXTERNAL LOAD AT APPROXIMATELY 150 FT AGL. THE PILOT REPORTED A LEFT YAW, ENGINE OUT ALARM, AND HEARING THE ENGINE WINDING DOWN THE PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO RELEASE THE BELLY BAND PORTION OF THE EXTERNAL LOAD SYSTEM, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO RELEASE THE CARGO HOOK. THE LONG LINE WAS NOT LONG ENOUGH FOR THE AIRCRAFT TO FULLY REACH THE GROUND. WHEN THE LONG LINE BECAME TIGHT IT ROLLED THE AIRCRAFT ON ITS LEFT SIDE AND CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. METAR KMTN 251654Z 15005KT 10SM SCT021 14/11 A3009 A ENGINE INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED BY NTSB, HAVERFIELD AVIATION, AND ROLLS ROYCE. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT UNPORTING OF FUEL WAS THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF ENGINE SHUT DOWN LEADING TO THE ACCIDENT. ## 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 ERA20LA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA160), Apr 25, 2020: Hughes 369 (N9159F), Pylesville, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of unporting of the fuel tank supply pickup while the helicopter was maneuvered to move a conductor wire. Contributing to the accident was… ## Other reports on N9159F (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 20220209000919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220209000919A), Feb 9, 2022: Hughes 369D (N9159F), Bel Air, MD, Substantial damage. Weather was clear and calm. Aircraft engine suffered mechanical failure, causing loss of power. Pilot autorotated aircraft to vacant field. Main rotor blades… - [Incident 19800616054289I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800616054289I), Jun 16, 1980: Hughes 369D (N9159F), Santa Barbara, CA. Public complaint because two helicoptors landed on hotel lawn. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.