# NTSB WPR09LA244: Hughes 369HS, N2058X, Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean), April 5, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 5, 2009, 12:00 UTC - Place: Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean) - Coordinates: 36.514097, -122.54016 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5141&lon=-122.5402&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration SFO IFO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73840 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA244 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73840/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73840 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA244 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from an object during takeoff from the deck of a fishing vessel. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes 369HS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=4470728), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes 369HS, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=4470728), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Hughes 369HS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=4470728), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Hughes 369HS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=4470728), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hughes 369HS, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=4470728), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis A representative of the operator reported that during takeoff from the deck of a fishing vessel, the tail rotor contacted an object on the deck. In his statement, the pilot said that during takeoff for a local fish spotting flight, the helicopter experienced a “violent movement to the right.” Despite the pilot’s input of left pedal, he was unable to regain control of the helicopter. The helicopter landed hard on the deck, resulting in the collapse of the left landing skid. Subsequently the helicopter rolled over and came to rest on its side while remaining on the deck. Examination of the helicopter by the pilot revealed structural damage to the tail boom, tail rotor, and main rotor assembly. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter or its flight control systems. ## Factual narrative On April 5, 2009, at 1200 Coordinated Universal Time, a Hughes 369HS helicopter, N2058X, landed hard following a loss of control during takeoff from a fishing vessel in international waters of the Pacific Ocean. The Venezuelan certificated commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. The helicopter, which was registered to and operated by HUSA Inc., Coral Gables, Florida, was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 local fish spotting flight. A representative of the operator reported the accident to the National Transportation Safety Board on May 13, 2009. The representative stated that he did not know the location of the vessel at the time of the accident other than it was in international waters in the Pacific Ocean. The representative further reported that the helicopter was taking off from the deck for a local fish spotting flight when the tail rotor contacted an object on the deck. The pilot reported that during takeoff the helicopter made a “violent movement to the right.” He attempted to compensate by applying left pedal; however, despite his control inputs, he was unable to regain control of the helicopter. The helicopter landed hard on the deck of the fishing vessel and collapsed the left landing skid. Subsequently, the helicopter rolled over and came to rest on its left side on the deck of the fishing vessel. Examination of the helicopter by the pilot revealed structural damage to the tail boom, tail rotor blades, tail rotor drive shaft, and main rotor blades. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter or its flight control systems. The weather conditions at the time of the accident as reported by the pilot were sky clear and a visibility of fifteen miles. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2058X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2058X-2020-07-27), registration cancelled 2020-07-27, S/N 410315S, built 1971 (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: 410315S - Airframe hours: 11098 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250-C20 400 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: HUSA Inc. - Registered owner: HUSA Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 12, 2008, 95 hours before - Departed: Pacific Ocean - Destination: Pacific Ocean ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 18,059 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 17,800 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20090405047149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090405047149A), Apr 5, 2009: Hughes 369HS, Panama City, Substantial damage. The helicopter, a Hughes 369 was operating aboard a venezuelan fishing vessel in the pacific ocean near Panama, after takeoff the tail rotor contacted a part… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 23, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73840. 719 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 719 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318548&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.