# NTSB ERA23LA326: Hughes 369, N353AH, Elberon, VA, August 5, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 5, 2023, 12:33 local (16:33 UTC)
- Place: Elberon, VA
- Coordinates: 37.031619, -76.808425
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0316&lon=-76.8084&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO, Rolls-Royce
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192811
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA326
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192811/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192811
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA326

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line structure arm, which resulted in main rotor blade contact.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=4470706), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md)
- [Main rotor system: main rotor blade system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046210): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046210/cases.md?model=4470706), [All aircraft, 60 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046210/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: 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 purpose of the rotorcraft external load flight was to spray water from the helicopter and wash some outside insulators that were suspended from power line structure arms. During the wash, the crew heard a bang, and the helicopter descended into trees. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage after the accident and observed substantial damage to the fuselage and rotor blades. The inspector also observed damage to the power line structure arm that was consistent with main rotor blade contact. The inspector did not find evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter, nor did the operator report any. Based on this information, it is likely that the helicopter’s main rotor struck the power line structure while the pilot was maneuvering in close proximity to it.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N353AH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N353AH), registered now, S/N 811079D, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369 (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: 811079D
- Year built: 1981
- Airframe hours: 20507
- Engines: Rolls-Royce 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 133
- Operator: Haverfield International Inc
- Registered owner: Tvpx Aircraft Solutions Inc Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 18, 2023, 10 hours before
- Departed: AKQ, Wakefield, VA
- Airport: NONE
- Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 19, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 7,375 total, 3,924 in this make and model, 7,130 as pilot in command, 146 in the last 90 days, 74 in the last 30 days
- Other flight crew; injuries: serious; seat: none

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observed at: AKQ, 10 nm away
- METAR: KAKQ 051654Z AUTO 10SM FEW025 29/22 A2998

## 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 20230805011339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230805011339A), Aug 5, 2023: Hughes 369D, Elberon, VA, Substantial damage. 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…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192811. 7.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16074814&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16075383&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for the record (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16075498&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 4 photos, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16074824&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 5, PDF, 9 pages, 315 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16074834&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Form_Redacted-Rel.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.

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