# NTSB SEA07LA022: McDonnell Douglas 369E, N1611W, Lyons, OR, November 22, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 22, 2006, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Lyons, OR
- Coordinates: 44.818611, -122.593887
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8186&lon=-122.5939&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 26, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 65021
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07LA022
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65021/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA022

## Probable cause

A severing of the helicopter's cyclic and collective rods by one of the load lifting slings following the failure of the other sling.  A contributing factor was the hard landing due to the fact that an autorotation was not possible.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, hover - out of ground effect
  - misc rotorcraft - failure (cause)
  - rotorcraft flight control - cut/severed (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - uncontrolled
- Hard landing, descent - uncontrolled
  - autorotation - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The pilot said that he was moving Christmas trees during harvesting operations.  He said that one of the two slings holding the load failed, and as the trees fell to the ground, the second sling "popped" into his rotor head.  The pilot said that both the cyclic and collective were severed, and he lost all flight control.  An autorotation was not possible and the helicopter fell to the ground and came to rest on its right side.

## Factual narrative

On November 22, 2006, at approximately 1500 Pacific standard time, a McDonnell Douglas 369E helicopter, N1611W, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain near Lyons, Oregon.  The commercial pilot, the sole occupant in the helicopter, was not injured.  The flight was being operated by Menasha Forest Management Services LLC under Title 14 CFR Part 133.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local external-load flight that originated at approximately 1455 from an off field refueling location.  No flight plan had been filed.

The pilot said that he was moving Christmas trees during harvesting operations.  He said that one of the two slings holding the load failed, and as the trees fell to the ground, the second sling "popped" into his rotor head.  The pilot said that both the cyclic and collective were severed, and he lost all flight control.  An autorotation was not possible and the helicopter fell to the ground and came to rest on its right side.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1611W (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: McDonnell Douglas 369E
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 0319E
- Airframe hours: 7997
- Engines: Allison 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: External load, Part 133
- Registered owner: Menasha Forest Management Services LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 1, 2006
- Departed: Lyons, OR
- Destination: Lyons, OR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 3,659 total, 1,125 in this make and model, 3,538 as pilot in command, 207 in the last 90 days, 108 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,800 ft broken
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observed at: SLE, 19 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 20061122024139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061122024139A), Nov 22, 2006: Hughes 369E, Lyons, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) On 11/22/2006, at approximately 100 feet AGL, N1611W experienced failure of one of two external load nylon slings which led to the loss of the load of…

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.

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