# NTSB WPR09WA250: Mcdonnell Douglas 369, Murray Bridge, Australia, November 19, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Foreign investigation
- Date: November 19, 2008, 00:45 local (00:45 UTC)
- Place: Murray Bridge, Australia
- Coordinates: -34.990833, 139.255554 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=-34.9908&lon=139.2556&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Lead agency: Other
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73866
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09WA250
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73866/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09WA250

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-hover: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Factual narrative

On November 19, 2008, about 1115 Australian central daylight-saving time, a pilot and two linesmen were operating a McDonnell Douglas 369D helicopter, Australian registry VH-PLJ, to test a high-voltage power line between Mannum and Mobilong, SA. While maneuvering to test a conductor joint, the helicopter's main rotors struck a conductor and the helicopter impacted the ground. One linesman was fatally injured and the other sustained minor injuries; the pilot sustained serious injuries. This accident is under the jurisdiction of, and is being investigated by, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. For additional information regarding this accident investigation contact the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). ATSB PO Box 967 Civic Square ACT 2608 Australia (Phone) +61-2-6257-4150 www.atsb.gov.au

## Aircraft

- Registration: VH-PLJ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS 369 (D)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1280445D
- Engines: Allison 250-C30B 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Non-U.S., non-commercial
- Flight plan: Unknown

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.