20211221021329A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Hughes 369D · Strawberry, AZ · December 21, 2021

Date: December 21, 2021 · 10:30 local
Place: Strawberry, AZ
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N111AD
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR22LA078
Reported as: Hughes 369D
Reported engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20B
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 6,700 total2,566 in this make and model72 in the last 90 days

N111ADRegistered now · Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369DS/N 400704D · Built 1980 Airframe modelHughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D Engine modelRolls-Royce 250-C20BTurbo-shaft

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On Tuesday, 12/21/2021, at approximately 10:30 MST, N111AD, a 1980 Hughes (MD) model 369D helicopter, serial number 400704D, landed safely after the main rotor blades made contact with a static wire damaging four of five main rotor blades. The helicopter was operating off airport near Strawberry, Arizona, in daylight, VMC conditions. There was no fire. The main rotor blades sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not sustain any injuries. There was no damage to any other aircraft or structures.

As the FAA filed it

ON TUESDAY, 12/21/2021, AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 MST, N111AD, A 1980 HUGHES (MD) MODEL 369D HELICOPTER, SERIAL NUMBER 400704D, LANDED SAFELY AFTER THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES MADE CONTACT WITH A STATIC WIRE DAMAGING FOUR OF FIVE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATING OFF AIRPORT NEAR STRAWBERRY, ARIZONA, IN DAYLIGHT, VMC CONDITIONS. THERE WAS NO FIRE. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO ANY OTHER AIRCRAFT OR STRUCTURES.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR22LA078Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportStrawberry, AZThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a static wire during approach.Dec 21, 2021 · Substantial damage