- Date
- November 5, 2024, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Waycross, GA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N11ASHughes 369D
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: External load event (Rotorcraft)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- 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
- FAA report
- 20241105021069A
- Case key
- 195452
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
An encounter with a foreign object, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with terrain.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot was conducting tree trimming operations on a power line right of way that consisted of a 10-blade aerial saw that was slung below the helicopter. During the cutting, a saw blade snagged a 1/2-inch cable that wrapped itself around the lower saw blades. A section of the cable broke off and struck the tail rotor assembly, damaging the stabilizers and tail rotor drive shaft. The helicopter lost all tail rotor authority and began an uncontrolled yaw, impacting the trees as it descended to the terrain where it came to rest on its left side. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the airframe and rotor blades. The operator did not report that there were any preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N11AS
- Reported as
- Hughes 369D
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 790541D
- Built
- 1979
- Airframe hours
- 40,678
- Engine
- Rolls Royce 250-C20B, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- External load · Part 133
- Operator
- Aviation Advantage LLC
- Registered owner
- Aviation Advantage LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · November 2, 2024 · 6 hours before
- Departed
- AYS · Waycross, GA
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Airport
- AYS · Waycross-Ware County
- Equipment
- ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Satellite tracking device
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 26
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 1, 2024
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 1,900 total · 400 in this make and model · 1,850 as pilot in command · 85 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.08 inHg
- Observed at
- AYS
- METAR
- KAYS 051755Z AUTO 11009KT 10SM SCT039 SCT045 29/20 A3008 RMK AO2 T02940195 TSNO
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 21, 2025, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N11AS · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.