# NTSB GAA18CA378: Mcdonnell Douglas Heli 369, N900FF, Yabucoa, PR, June 16, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 16, 2018, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Yabucoa, PR - Coordinates: 18.051111, -65.879447 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=18.0511&lon=-65.8794&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 5, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97609 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA378 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97609/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97609 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA378 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain main rotor clearance from a fiber line while picking up a lineman. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Mcdonnell Douglas Heli 369FF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=3027371), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mcdonnell Douglas Heli 369FF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=3027371), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Mcdonnell Douglas Heli 369FF, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=3027371), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mcdonnell Douglas Heli 369FF, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3027371), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the helicopter pilot, he dropped off a lineman on top of a power line tower to install fiber lines. The lineman completed the task and informed the pilot by radio that he was ready to be picked up from the tower. While picking up the lineman, the pilot hovered next to the tower and signaled to the lineman that he was ready for him to transfer from the tower to the helicopter’s left skid. When the lineman reached out to attach his lanyard to the helicopter, the pilot felt the main rotor blades strike a fiber line that the lineman had just installed. The helicopter became controllable, and the pilot conducted a precautionary landing without picking up the lineman. After the pilot discussed the event with the lineman, the lineman raised the fiber line to a higher position on the tower and then the pilot picked him up. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed that the main rotor blades sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by assessing each approach and landing individually while looking for any possible new hazards or obstructions. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the helicopter pilot, he dropped off a lineman on top of a power line tower, to install fiber lines. The lineman completed the task and informed the pilot by radio that he was ready to be recovered from the tower. During the recovery, the pilot hovered next to the tower and signaled to the lineman that he was ready for him to transfer from the tower to the left skid of the helicopter. When the lineman reached out to attach his lanyard to the helicopter, the pilot felt the main rotor blades strike the fiber line that was just installed. The helicopter remained controllable and the pilot made a precautionary landing without recovering the lineman. After discussing the event with the lineman, the fiber line was raised to a higher position on the tower prior to the recovery of the lineman. Upon returning to base, a post-accident examination of the helicopter revealed that the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by assessing each approach and landing individually, while looking for any possible new hazards or obstructions. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N900FF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N900FF), registered now, S/N 0100FF, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELI CO 369 (FF) - Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas Heli 369FF](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-heli-369ff) (registry code 3027371) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C30](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c30) (registry code 54023, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0100FF - Year built: 1994 - Airframe hours: 5509.1 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250C30 650 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: External load, Part 133 - Operator: Northwest Helicopters LLC - Registered owner: Northwest Helicopters LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 8, 2018 - Departed: Palmas Del Mar, PR - Destination: Yabucoa, PR - Equipment: Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2; last flight review July 31, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 16,564 total, 4,227 in this make and model, 15,358 as pilot in command, 172 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,800 ft overcast - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: TJNR, 18 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 20180616015519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180616015519A), Jun 16, 2018: Mcdonnell Douglas Heli Co 369FF, Yabucoa, PR, Substantial damage. Earlier on this day, 06/16/2018, the pilot had flown a lineman to an electric tower to work on a wire (a fiber line on top of the structure). The fiber line… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 27, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97609. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470622&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - AS-INT-018 Checklist (item 2, .PDF, 339 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470623&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=AS-INT-018%20Checklist-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 198 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470624&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.