# Accident 20200805009889A: Hughes 369D, Delia, KS, August 5, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 5, 2020, 17:45 local time
- Place: Delia, KS
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: 5U2L
- Location: 39.2600° N, 95.9886° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2600&lon=-95.9886&mi=10
- Aircraft: N104SU, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N104SU) (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: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 4,960 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN20CA334](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA334) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200805009889A

## Narrative

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

ON 08/05/2020, AT 1745 CDT, A HUGHES 369D, N104SU, REGISTERED TO ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, (5U2L) WAS CONDUCTING AIRBORNE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT BY SAWING TREES BACK FROM THE RAILROAD TRACKS, AND SOMETHING ( FOD) CAUGHT THE HANGING SAW BLADES, AND THREW DEBRIS UP IN TO THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES OF THE HELICOPTER.

THE HELICOPTER STARTED VIBRATING, AND FORCING THE PILOT TO LAND IN A CORNFIELD. THE HELICOPTER ROTOR BLADES WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, AND THE PILOT HAD NO INJURIES. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AT ADDRESS ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

## 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 CEN20CA334](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA334), Aug 5, 2020: Hughes 369 (N104SU), Delia, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: Foreign object damage sustained to the main rotor blades due to aerial tree trimming.

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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