# Accident 20210618015959A: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E, Ferndale, NY, June 18, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 18, 2021, 08:15 local time
- Place: Ferndale, NY
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: HXFL
- Location: 41.7345° N, 74.7594° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7345&lon=-74.7594&mi=10
- Aircraft: N371EE, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N371EE-2022-10-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E (registry code 3027369, https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-helicopter-369e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C20 series (registry code 03020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELICOPTER 369E
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250-C20 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 3,852 total, 1,568 in this make and model, 104 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA21LA262](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA262) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210618015959A

## Narrative

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

ON 06/18/2021 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:15 AM EST, A MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELICOPTER, MODEL 369E, REGISTRATION NUMBER N371EE, S/N 0371E, CERTIFICATED IN THE STANDARD NORMAL CATEGORY WAS PERFORMING AERIAL POWER LINE WORK UNDER PART 133.  THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE(S)  MADE CONTACT WITH THE LIFE-LINE CATWALK SUPPORT STRUCTURE ON A HIGH VOLTAGE POWER POLE RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.  THE AIRCRAFT CRASH LANDED INTO A WOODED AREA 225 FEET NORTH OF THE POWER POLE AND SUFFERED MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM, TAIL ROTOR SYSTEM, FUSELAGE, SKIDS,  AND TAIL SECTION.  BOTH THE PILOT AND THE LINEMAN SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES.

## 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 ERA21LA262](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA262), Jun 18, 2021: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E (N371EE), Swan Lake, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the power transmission tower structure during powerline maintenance work, which resulted in the helicopter's main rotor striking the lifeline…

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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