# Accident 20210109012779A: Hughes 369D, Winthrop, WA, January 9, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 9, 2021, 15:20 local time
- Place: Winthrop, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.4732° N, 120.1782° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4732&lon=-120.1782&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8612F, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8612F) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D (registry code 4470706, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 SER 250HP (registry code 03002, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250 SER 250HP
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 8,125 total, 575 in this make and model, 46 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR21LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA084) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210109012779A

## Narrative

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

PILOT STATED HE WAS FLYING INTO A LADING SPOT THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY CLEARED OF SNOW AT A HOTEL IN METHOW WA. PILOT STATED HE FLEW OVER THE LANDING AREA, AND FROM THE AIR IT LOOKED LIKE HE HAD ENOUGH ROOM. HE WAS USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AS A REFERENCE POINT AND FELT COMFORTABLE WITH THE AREA. PILOT STATED THAT AS HE WAS COMING DOWN HE FELT LIKE THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED BACK, AND THE TAIL ROTOR MADE CONTACT WITH THE SNOW BANK BEHIND HIM. ONCE THE TAIL ROTOR MADE CONTACT, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SPIN, AND THE SKID CONTACTED A SMALL BANK OF SNOW, APPROXIMATELY 1 FOOT TALL, AND CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO TIP ON ITS SIDE.

## 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 WPR21LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA084), Jan 9, 2021: Hughes 369D (N8612F), Winthrop, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to adequately monitor the environment which resulted in a collision with a snowbank and subsequent loss of control.

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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