# NTSB ANC04LA077: Hughes 369D, Nome, AK, July 11, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 11, 2004, 14:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place: Nome, AK
- Coordinates: 65.541114, -167.391937
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=65.5411&lon=-167.3919&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: Fairbanks FSDO-01
- NTSB case key (mKey): 59644
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04LA077
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59644/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA077

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions while the helicopter was standing, which resulted in the coasting main rotor blade contacting the tail boom.  A factor associated with the accident was the gusty wind condition.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Miscellaneous/other, standing
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The commercial helicopter pilot said he landed on a ridge where he had landed several times that day.  He said he shut down the engine, and was applying the main rotor brake when a gust of wind lifted the forward blades, which allowed the aft moving blades to strike the tail boom.  The pilot said there had been a steady 20 knot wind blowing at the site all day, but there were no problems with wind gusts on the previous landings.  The main rotor blades and tail boom were damaged during the accident.

## Factual narrative

On July 11, 2004, about 1415 Alaska daylight time, a Canadian registered Hughes 369D helicopter, C-GLHQ, sustained substantial damage when a gust of wind resulted in the coasting main rotor blades striking the tail boom after landing at a remote site, about 80 miles northwest of Nome, Alaska.  The helicopter was being operated by Prism Helicopter LTD, Wasilla, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) contract survey flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135 when the accident occurred.  The commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on July 13, the pilot said he landed on a ridge where he had landed several times that day.  He said he shut down the engine, and was applying the main rotor brake when a gust of wind lifted the forward blades, which allowed the aft moving blades to strike the tail boom.  The pilot said there had been a steady 20 knot wind blowing at the site all day, but there were no problems with wind gusts on the previous landings.  He said there were no known mechanical anomalies with the helicopter prior to the accident, and that the main rotor blades and tail boom were damaged during the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: C-GLHQ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Hughes 369D
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1150D
- Engines: Rolls-Royce 250C-20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Prism Helicopters Ltd
- Registered owner: Prism Helicopters
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Departed: PAOM, Nome, AK
- Destination: Nome, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 18, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 2,900 total, 1,350 in this make and model, 1,420 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F

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.

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