- Date
- June 9, 1994, 18:00 local (Jun 10, 1994, 01:00 UTC)
- Place
- Snoqualmie, WA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N1088GHughes 369D
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 7, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940609015279A
- Case key
- 41950
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Poor in-flight planning/decision. Factors to the accident were: clearance not maintained and tailwind.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that while maneuvering for landing, he approached the landing pad downwind. The pilot reduced power and the helicopter settled with a low rotor RPM indication. The pilot attempted to abort the landing; however, during this maneuver the helicopter collided with tree tops.
Factual narrative
On June 9, 1994, at 1800 Pacific daylight time, a Hughes 369D, N1088G, collided with trees while maneuvering for landing near Snoqualmie, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured.
In a written statement the pilot reported that at the end of the work day, he was preparing to land on a pad to pick up ground crew. The pilot made a low pass over the pad, then pulled up and turned downwind for the landing. The helicopter began to settle with power and the descent rate increased, followed by a low RPM indication. The pilot stated that he "lowered the power" and pushed the cyclic forward in an attempt to abort the landing, however, the helicopter collided with the nearby tree tops. The pilot was able to land the helicopter without further incident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1088G
- Reported as
- Hughes 369D
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 700736D
- Airframe hours
- 917
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20B, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Highline Helicopters, doing business as Highline Helicopters
- Registered owner
- Anthony B. Reece
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 1, 1994 · 99 hours before
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 36
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.