# NTSB CEN18LA121: Hughes 369D, N499SL, Blair, WI, March 7, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 7, 2018, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Blair, WI - Coordinates: 44.304443, -91 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3044&lon=-91.0000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Milwaukee FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 96883 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA121 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96883/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96883 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA121 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to recognize and compensate for hazards during the external load operation, which led to a collision between a lineman (external load) and a powerline. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md?model=4470706), [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=4470706), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=4470706), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=4470706), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot of the helicopter reported that the purpose of the flight was to lift a utility company lineman to a structure to perform work in conjunction with a new powerline project. While transporting the lineman to the structure using a long line, the worker contacted an existing, live powerline and was seriously injured. The weather conditions at the time of the accident included 10 miles visibility and no precipitation. The pilot reported that he could not see the powerline from his perspective until it was too late to make a course change. The pilot recommended that better recognition of hazards and obstructions may have prevented the accident. ## Factual narrative On March 7, 2018, about 1400 central standard time, a Hughes 369D helicopter, transporting a powerline worker via a long line, was involved in an accident near Blair, Wisconsin, when the worker contacted the powerlines and received serious injuries. The helicopter was not damaged and the pilot received no injuries. The helicopter was registered to HLH Holdings, LLC, and was operated by High Line Helicopters, LLC, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 133 as a Rotorcraft External-Load Operation. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The local flight had just originated when the accident occurred. The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to lift a utility lineman using the helicopter so that the lineman could install components in conjunction with a new powerline project. He stated that once the lineman hooked up to the long line he proceeded to lift the lineman up to a nearby structure but the lineman contacted an existing powerline. The lineman was subsequently set back on the ground to await emergency services. The lineman suffered severe injuries as a result of the accident.. The pilot reported that the powerline that the lineman struck was not visible from the pilot's perspective until it was too late to correct course. He also reported as a recommendation: "Better recognition of hazards and obstructions while performing external load operations." The weather conditions reported at a nearby airport included a broken ceiling at 3,700 ft above the ground, 10 miles visibility and no precipitation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N499SL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N499SL), registered now, S/N 190448D, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D (D) - Registry model: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (registry code 4470706) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C20B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20b) (registry code 54385, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 190448D - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 18746 - Engines: Rolls Royce C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: No damage - Flight: External load, Part 133 - Operator: High Line Helicopters - Registered owner: Hlh Holdings LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 24, 2018 - Departed: Blair, WI - Destination: Blair, WI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 5,350 total, 3,900 in this make and model, 5,250 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 9 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,700 ft broken - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: BCK, 17 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 20180307001519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180307001519A), Mar 7, 2018: Hughes 369D, Blair, WI, No damage. On March 7, 2018 a Hughes 369D helicopter, operated by high line helicopters LLC working out of lacrosse Wisconsin, was transporting human external cargo to… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96883. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464491&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.