# NTSB SEA05CA173: Hughes 369E, N500FU, Donnelly, ID, August 16, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 16, 2005, 17:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Donnelly, ID - Coordinates: 44.627777, -116.141387 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6278&lon=-116.1414&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 62259 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05CA173 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62259/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05CA173 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance of a tree during a landing attempt due to loss of visibility from a self induced brown-out condition. Contributing factors were the pilot's failure to identify a hazardous landing site, and the tree. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, hover - in ground effect - unsafe/hazardous condition - not identified, pilot in command (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said that he had landed at the site several times before, but that much construction work had been done since his last visit. He said that as he descended to his landing zone, the main rotor downwash from his helicopter created "brown-out" visibility conditions. He floated past his landing spot and the helicopter's main rotor struck a tree. The pilot said that pieces of the main blades subsequently damaged the vertical and horizontal stabilizer, and the tail rotor was damaged. ## Factual narrative On August 16, 2005, at approximately 1715 mountain daylight time, a Hughes 369E, N500FU, was substantially damaged when the main rotor blade impacted a tree during a landing attempt near Donnelly, Idaho. The commercial pilot and his three passengers were not injured. Heliflite LLC, Boise, Idaho, was operating the flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight which had originated 1 hour 15 minutes before the event. A flight plan had not been filed. The pilot said that he had landed at the site several times before, but that much construction work had been done since his last visit. He said that as he descended to his landing zone, the main rotor downwash from his helicopter created "brown-out" visibility conditions. He floated past his landing spot and the helicopter's main rotor struck a tree. The pilot said that pieces of the main blades subsequently damaged the vertical and horizontal stabilizer, and the tail rotor was damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N500FU](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N500FU-2007-06-04), registration cancelled 2007-06-04, S/N 199E, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hughes 369E - Registry model: [Hughes Helicopters 369E](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-369e) (registry code 4470707) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 250HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (registry code 03002, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0199E - Engines: Allison 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Heliflite LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: EUL, Caldwell, ID - Destination: NONE, Donnelly, ID ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 356 total, 128 in this make and model, 356 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: MYL, 15 nm away ## Other investigations on N500FU (1) 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. - [NTSB SEA07LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA021), Nov 21, 2006: Hughes 369E (N500FU), Jensen, UT, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the transmission wires due to an inadquate visual lookout while maneuvering during a search and rescue flight. 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.