# NTSB WPR11WA421: Hughes 369D, South Malekula, Vanuatu, Vanuatu, August 28, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Foreign investigation
- Date: August 28, 2011, 15:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: South Malekula, Vanuatu, Vanuatu
- Coordinates: -15, 166.666671 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=-15.0000&lon=166.6667&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: External load event (Rotorcraft)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/480)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 minor
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Lead agency: Other
- NTSB case key (mKey): 81666
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11WA421
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81666/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11WA421

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering: External load event (Rotorcraft)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/480) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/480/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D (D)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 80-0778D
- Engines: 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)

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.