# NTSB GAA18CA127: Hughes 369, N338HW, Heber City, UT, February 12, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 12, 2018, 15:53 local (22:53 UTC) - Place: Heber City, UT - Coordinates: 40.330001, -111.043609 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3300&lon=-111.0436&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 14, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96736 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96736/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96736 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA127 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from an elk while maneuvering at a low altitude. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Other: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The helicopter pilot reported that he was maneuvering at a low altitude in an attempt to net an elk. When the helicopter was approximately above the elk, his attention was immediately focused forward due to a small rise in terrain. He pitched the helicopter's nose up, and the helicopter started to shake and spin. Subsequently, the helicopter struck the ground, the right skid broke, and the helicopter came to rest on its right side. Postaccident examination revealed that the tail rotor had struck the elk when the pilot pitched the helicopter's nose up. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom and rotor. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The helicopter pilot reported that, he was maneuvering at a low altitude in an attempt to net an elk. When the helicopter was approximately above the elk, his attention was immediately focused forward due to a small rise in terrain. He pitched the nose of the helicopter up, and the helicopter started to shake and spin. Subsequently, the helicopter struck the ground, the right skid broke, and the helicopter came to rest on its right side. A post-accident examination revealed that the helicopter's tail-rotor had struck the elk when the pilot pitched the helicopter's nose up. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail-boom and rotor. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N338HW (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: HUGHES 369 (D) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 890559D - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 6339 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Heliwild Investments LLC, doing business as Helicopter Wildlife Services - Registered owner: Heliwild Investments LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 30, 2018 - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 25, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,877.7 total, 1,670 in this make and model, 4,700.3 as pilot in command, 275.2 in the last 90 days, 95 in the last 30 days, 6.4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: KPVU, 32 nm away ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 29, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96736. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 847 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461439&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Picture (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 439 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461440&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Picture-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.