# NTSB LAX06TA259: Hughes 369D, N114HD, Lahaina, HI, August 13, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: August 12, 2006, 16:45 local (Aug 13, 2006, 02:45 UTC) - Place: Lahaina, HI - Location: 20.8860° N, 156.6662° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lahaina, HI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB coordinates: 20.017221, -156.601943, outside the stated state - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=20.8860&lon=-156.6662&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 64320 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06TA259 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64320/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06TA259 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to shut down the engine prior to exiting the helicopter resulting in the tail rotor contacting the ground. A contributing factor was the gusting wind conditions present at the accident site. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, standing - idling rotors - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - aircraft unattended/engine(s) running - intentional, pilot in command (cause) - rotor system,tail rotor - blade strike - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot landed in a flat grass covered field for the purpose of removing a long line and bambi bucket used in firefighting operations. Following touchdown, the pilot rolled the throttle to flight idle, and applied the frictions for the cyclic and collective. The wind conditions at the time were from 060 degrees at 19 knots gusting to 25 knots. After the pilot exited the helicopter, a gust of wind caught the unattended rotor disk, and tilted it, causing the helicopter to tilt rearward on its skids. The pilot returned to the controls just as the tail rotor made contact with the ground. He leveled the helicopter, brought the engine back to flight idle, and initiated a hover. The pilot stated that after he performed several pedal turns and noticed no control hindrance, he elected to return to Kahului. The helicopter sustained substantial damage consisting of damaged tail rotor blades and a bent and twisted tail rotor system drive shaft. ## Factual narrative On August 12, 2006, about 1645 Hawaiian standard time, a Hughes 369D, N114HD, contacted the ground with its tail rotor near Lahaina, Hawaii. Windwood Aviation, Inc., operated the helicopter under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the helicopter sustained substantial damage consisting of damaged tail rotor blades and a bent and twisted tail rotor system drive shaft. The local flight departed Kahului, Hawaii (OGG), about 1600 on a firefighting mission. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan had been filed. The pilot stated in a written report that he landed at a grass flat near a reservoir on the eastern side of a valley, which was prone to gusty winds. He rolled the throttle to flight idle, and applied the frictions for the cyclic and collective. He exited the helicopter, and proceeded to detach the electrical connection and hook ring of a bambi bucket used for firefighting. A gust of wind tilted the helicopter rearward on its skids. The pilot returned to the controls as the tail rotor made contact with the ground. He leveled the helicopter, accelerated to flight idle, and initiated a hover to prevent further damage. He performed several pedal turns, and collective changes. The flight characteristics seemed normal, and he noticed no control hindrance. He returned to Kahului. The pilot stated that since the event occurred while he was not flying, he did not recognize its significance. He received radio instructions to proceed to another emergency. He said that in his haste and determination to stay on his mission, he did not adhere to safety protocols. The winds at Kahului Airport, 12 miles southeast of the accident site, were reported to be 060 degrees at 19 knots gusting to 25 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N114HD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N114HD), registered now, S/N 280261D, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hughes 369D - Registry model: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (registry code 4470706) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C20 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (registry code 03020, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 280261D - Airframe hours: 15168 - Engines: Allison 250-C20 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft - local, Part 133 - Registered owner: Windwood Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 1, 2006, 72 hours before - Departed: OGG, Kahului, HI - Destination: OGG, Kahului, HI - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 5,200 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 5,060 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 19 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: OGG, 8 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 20060812016359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060812016359A), Aug 12, 2006: Hughes 369D, Kahului, HI, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot got out of aircraft to disconnect fire bucket and aircraft rocked back striking tailrotor while at flight idle. 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.