# NTSB CEN17LA314: Hughes 369D, N58424, Villa Grove, CO, August 10, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 10, 2017, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Villa Grove, CO - Coordinates: 38.254444, -105.947776 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2544&lon=-105.9478&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 95801 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA314 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95801/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95801 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA314 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain main rotor clearance from a power line tower during low-level maneuvering. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=4470706), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=4470706), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md?model=4470706), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=4470706), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was conducting external load operations in the helicopter to assist power line construction. While maneuvering the helicopter away from a tower at low altitude, the pilot flew the helicopter to the right while planning on backing up at the same time. The helicopter's speed to the right was faster than he had planned. Subsequently, the helicopter's main rotor hit a tower before it came into the pilot's view, and the helicopter then impacted terrain. The pilot reported that the helicopter did not have any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Given the pilot's statement, it is likely that he was not adequately monitoring the environment during low-level maneuvering among power line towers and failed to see a tower before the main rotors hit it. ## Factual narrative "***This report was modified on June 3, 2019. Please see the docket for this accident to view the original report.*** On August 10, 2017, about 1400 mountain daylight time, a Hughes 369D helicopter, N58424, had its tail rotor impact a powerline near Villa Grove, Colorado. The pilot received serious injuries. The helicopter sustained substantial tailboom and fuselage damage. The helicopter was registered to Quicksilver Air Inc. and operated by Patrol Helicopters Inc. as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 133 rotorcraft external load flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area about the time of the accident, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight originated from a field near the accident site. According to the pilot's accident report, the purpose of the flight was to assist power line construction. After pulling a sock line through several structures, the helicopter was flown inside an angle tower. As the pilot was flying the helicopter away from the angle tower, he flew the helicopter to his right while planning on backing up at the same time. The helicopter's speed to the right was faster than planned. He stated that the helicopter's main rotors contacted a tower before it came into view, and the helicopter subsequently "crashed." The pilot indicated that the helicopter did not have any mechanical malfunctions. The pilot was not wearing a helmet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N58424](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N58424-2020-01-17), registration cancelled 2020-01-17, S/N 1090593D, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D - Registry model: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (registry code 4470706) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C20 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (registry code 03020, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1090593D - Year built: 1979 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250 C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: External load, Part 133 - Operator: Patrol Helicopters Inc. - Registered owner: Quicksilver Air Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Villa Grove, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; last flight review December 8, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 19,500 total, 16,000 in this make and model, 18,500 as pilot in command, 67.3 in the last 90 days, 50.5 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.32 inHg - Observed at: KALS, 49 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20170810010359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170810010359A), Aug 10, 2017: Hughes 369D, Villa Grove, CO, Substantial damage. On August 10, 2017 a huges 369D helicopter inadvertently contacted a powerline pole with its tail rotor, causing a loss of control and impacted the ground. The… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 1, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95801. 8.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 8.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457888&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF 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. --- 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.