# Accident 20230805011339A: Hughes 369D, Elberon, VA, August 5, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 5, 2023, 13:45 local time
- Place: Elberon, VA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: HXFL
- Location: 37.0316° N, 76.8084° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0316&lon=-76.8084&mi=10
- Aircraft: N353AH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N353AH) (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: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 7,375 total, 3,924 in this make and model, 146 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA326](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA326) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230805011339A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT DEPARTED NEW KENT COUNTY AIRPORT (W96) AT 0858EDT AND FLEW TO WAKEFIELD MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (KAKQ) LANDING AT 0928EDT. THE CREW WAS UTILIZING KAKQ AS THE DAILY LANDING ZONE FOR CONDUCTING AIRBORNE SPRAY SYSTEM OPERATIONS ON POWER LINE INSULATORS. AIRCRAFT DEPARTED KAKQ AGAIN AT 1120EDT WITH ONE PILOT, AND ONE LINEMAN ON BOARD TO OPERATE THE AIRBORNE SPRAY SYSTEM. THE FLIGHT CONTINUED IN THE AREA OF ELBERON, VA FOR 43 MINUTES BEFORE RETURNING FOR JET-A (DISPENSED FROM A PRIVATE FUEL SERVICE VEHICLE) AND TO REFILL THE WATER TANK ON THE SPRAY SYSTEM. AIRCRAFT DEPARTED KAKQ FOR A SECOND TIME TO CONTINUE OPERATIONS FOR THE DAY. DURING THE WASH OF AN OUTSIDE INSULATOR SUSPENDED FROM A POWER LINE STRUCTURE ARM, THE CREW HEARD A BANG AND THE AIRCRAFT IMMEDIATELY STARTED DESCENDING AWAY FROM THE STRUCTURE INTO THE ADJACENT 40' TALL PINE TREES. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST, LAYING ON ITS LEFT SIDE AT 1234EDT. BOTH CREW MEMBERS EGRESSED UNDER THEIR OWN POWER AND WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL VIA EMERGENCY SERVICES.

## 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 ERA23LA326](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA326), Aug 5, 2023: Hughes 369 (N353AH), Elberon, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line structure arm, which resulted in main rotor blade contact.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.