# NTSB SEA02LA024: Hughes 369E, N369ET, Grand Coulee, WA, January 8, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 8, 2002, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Grand Coulee, WA - Coordinates: 48.283332, -118.684165 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.2833&lon=-118.6842&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 3, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA- Spokane FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54033 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54033/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54033 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA024 ## Probable cause The net gunner's improper decision to fire the net gun at an angle that allowed the net to become entangled in the main rotor system. A factor was foreign object damage to the main rotor blades. ## Analysis The pilot reported that the crew was attempting to capture and collar a live deer with a net gun at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that the helicopter was not in position to fire at the deer when the gunner fired the net gun. The net became tangled in the main rotor blades, and the blades sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no prior mechanical malfunction or failure of the helicopter at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On January 8, 2002, about 1430 Pacific standard time, a Hughes helicopter 369E, N369ET, sustained substantial damage following a main rotor blade strike while conducting a wildlife management flight near Grand Coulee, Washington. The aircraft departed an area near Gifford, WA, for a local flight at approximately 1330. The helicopter is owned and was operated by Silverhawk Aviation, LLC, as a visual flight rules (VFR) flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The commercial pilot and one crewmember aboard the helicopter were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident scene, and no flight plan was filed. According to the pilot, he and a crewmember were attempting to capture and collar deer utilizing a net gun. The pilot reported in a written statement, "I came up behind the deer, and was working on getting level so the gunner could take the shot. I was not above the deer yet when the gunner took the shot early and shot the net into the main rotor system." According to the pilot, two of the weights from the net damaged the main rotor blades. The pilot reported that he then felt a vibration, and landed in the first available location, approximately 200 yards from the accident location. The pilot further reported that normally the netting shot is not taken until the animal is below the helicopter's skid. The pilot reported on the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report NTSB Form 6120.1/2 no mechanical malfunction or failure of the helicopter. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - improper decision, other crewmember (cause) - rotor system,main rotor blade - foreign object damage (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: N369ET (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Hughes 369E - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 199E - Airframe hours: 6535.2 - Engines: Rolls-Royce 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: Silverhawk Aviation, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 4, 2001, 76.6 hours before - Departed: Gifford, WA - Destination: WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review October 1, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 2,780 total, 2,284 in this make and model, 2,449 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F ## 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 20020108000419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020108000419A), Jan 8, 2002: Hughes 369E, Grandcoulee, WA, No damage. (-23) The aircraft was working for the state of Washington fish & game department at the colville indian reservation. The mission was to live capture deer with… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 10, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54033. 274 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 274 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378440&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.