# Accident 20221208020979A: Hughes 369D, La Sal, UT, December 8, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 8, 2022, 11:15 local time
- Place: La Sal, UT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.4439° N, 109.2426° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4439&lon=-109.2426&mi=10
- Aircraft: N458HW, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N458HW) (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: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 5,536 total, 1,400 in this make and model, 120 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA063) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221208020979A

## Narrative

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

AT APPROXIMATELY, 11:15(L), THE PILOT MANEUVERED THE AIRCRAFT CLOSE TO A STEEP MOUNTAIN SLOPE PERFORMING A TOE-IN LANDING AGAINST THE STEEP SLOPE TO ALLOW THE DWR PASSENGERS TO PERFORM THEIR WORK. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE THE HELICOPTER WAS IN A STABLE HOVER AGAINST THE MOUNTAIN SLOPE, THERE WAS SUDDENLY A “BIG BANG”, AND THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO DESCEND AND VIOLENTLY SHUDDERED. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER AWAY FROM THE SLOPE, BUT THE HELICOPTER SLID DOWN THE SLOPE AND ROLLED COMING TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE SUSPECTED A LOOSE ROCK MAY HAVE FELL INTO THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM OR THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE SLOPE. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE, MAIN ROTOR, AND TAIL CONE SECTIONS. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES THAT WOULD HAVE PRECLUDED NORMAL OPERATIONS.

## 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 WPR23LA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA063), Dec 8, 2022: Hughes 369D (N458HW), La Sal, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain during a toe-in landing to sloping terrain which resulted in a loss of helicopter 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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