# Accident 20250911014299A: Hughes 369D, Jim Thorpe, PA, September 11, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 11, 2025, 14:05 local time
- Place: Jim Thorpe, PA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: IZWL
- Location: 40.8843° N, 75.7004° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8843&lon=-75.7004&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5072F, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5072F) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D (registry code 4470706, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- Reported engine: ROLLS ROYCE 250-C20R
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 11,700 total, 2,626 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA25FA344](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25FA344) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250911014299A

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2025, ABOUT 1405 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A HUGHES (MCDONNELL DOUGLAS) 369D HELICOPTER.

THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED A LANDING ZONE ABOUT 1400 WITH 45 GALLONS OF JET-A FUEL, TO PERFORM WORK NEAR A 120-FT-TALL TRANSMISSION TOWER ABOUT 1 MILE AWAY.

THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO MEASURE AND MARK SECTIONS ALONG A FIBER OPTIC WIRE, LOCATED ABOVE

THE TRANSMISSION WIRES.

THE LINE TECHNICIAN WOULD BE POSITIONED ON A SKID PLATE, ON THE LEFT OUTSIDE OF THE HELICOPTER, BEHIND THE

PILOT SEAT.

THERE WERE NO KNOWN WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE. OTHER LINE TECHNICIANS, WORKING

ABOUT 2 MILES AWAY, REPORTED FEELING AND HEARING VIBRATIONS IN THE LINES ABOUT THE TIME OF THE

ACCIDENT.

THE WRECKAGE CAME TO REST IN A VERTICAL NOSE-DOWN POSITION ADJACENT TO THE TRANSMISSION TOWER

WITH SEVERED FIBER OPTIC WIRE

## 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 ERA25FA344](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25FA344), Sep 11, 2025: Hughes 369D (N5072F), Jim Thorpe, PA, destroyed, 2 fatal, investigation ongoing

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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