- Date
- August 28, 2011, 15:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place
- South Malekula, Vanuatu, Vanuatu
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- YJ-HELHughes 369D
- Defining event
- Maneuvering: External load event (Rotorcraft)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Lead agency
- Other
- Case key
- 81666
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Factual narrative
On August 28, 2011, at 1500 universal coordinated time, a Hughes 369D, Vanuatu registration YJ-HEL, collided with the ground after the attached long-line became entangled in the rotor system near Malekula, Vanuatu. The helicopter was operated by Vanuatu Helicopters under the pertinent civil regulations of Vanuatu. The pilot was fatally injured, and the two passengers received minor injuries. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Vanuatu. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Government of Vanuatu. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Civil Aviation Authority Vanuatu (CAAV) PMB 9068 Port Vila Vanuatu SW Pacific Tel: 678-23301 Fax: 678-23783
Aircraft
- Registration
- YJ-HEL
- Reported as
- Hughes 369D (D)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 80-0778D
- Engine
- Rolls Royce Allison 250-C20, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- Unknown
- Flight
- External load · Non-U.S., non-commercial
- Operator
- Vanuatu Helicopters
- Flight plan
- Unknown
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC)