# NTSB SEA95LA139: Hughes 369HS, N9196F, Orting, WA, July 4, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 4, 1995, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Orting, WA - Coordinates: 47.040157, -122.140533 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.0402&lon=-122.1405&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 3 serious - Status: Completed, report January 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42181 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA95LA139 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42181/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95LA139 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE CABLE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - object - wire,static - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE HELICOPTER PILOT WAS GIVING SCENIC RIDES, AND ELECTED TO MAKE A LANDING APPROACH TO A SAND BAR IN THE MIDDLE OF A RIVER. HE STATED THAT HE SCANNED FOR WIRES AT 300 FEET ELEVATION AND SAW NOTHING. HE MADE A TURN AND SLOW APPROACH TO THE SAND BAR. AT ABOUT 10 FEET HEIGHT AND 20 MPH, HE STRUCK A CABLE USED FOR AN OVERHEAD TROLLEY FOR CROSSING THE RIVER. ## Factual narrative On July 4, 1995, approximately 1400 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Hughes 369HS helicopter, N9196F, impacted a power cable while maneuvering over the Carbon River near Orting, Washington. The commercial pilot and his two passengers received serious injuries, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The FAR Part 91 local sightseeing flight, which was giving rides as part of a July 4th celebration in Orting, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, he had flown along the river bed a number of times that day, but at a higher altitude. On this trip he was lower and did not see the cable, which was estimated by local authorities to be about 30 to 50 feet off the ground. In a written statement, the pilot stated that he had overflown a sand bar and had elected to make a landing approach. He said he made a turn and a slow approach to the sand bar, which "looked very clean and free of obstructions." He settled in to the approach, estimating that his skid height was 10 feet and airspeed was about 20 mph. The pilot stated that "the wire literally appeared from nowhere. It was about 1/2 inch in diameter and absolutely invisible to my trained eye. No towers, no buildings, nothing but wire emerging from dense foliage on each side of the river bed." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9196F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9196F), registered now, S/N 740616S, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HUGHES 369HS - Registry model: [Hughes 369HS](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-369hs) (registry code 4470728) (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: 740616S - Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 360 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Helicopter Specialty - Registered owner: Roger Doherty - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,000 total, 570 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 8 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Temperature: 70 °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 19950704016209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950704016209A), Jul 4, 1995: Hughes 369HS, Ortin, WA, Substantial damage. Struck power cable circling low over carbin river on sightseeing flight. Was on landing approach to a sandbar. ## Other investigations on N9196F (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 ANC76AA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC76AA024), Aug 17, 1975: Hughes 369HS (N9196F), Nome, AK, substantial damage 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.