# NTSB WPR21LA084: Hughes 369D, N8612F, Winthrop, WA, January 9, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 9, 2021, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Winthrop, WA - Coordinates: 48.47318, -120.1782 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4732&lon=-120.1782&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102514 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA084 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102514/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102514 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA084 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to adequately monitor the environment which resulted in a collision with a snowbank and subsequent loss of control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=4470706), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=4470706), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=4470706), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) (defining event); cases with it: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md?model=4470706), [All aircraft, 124 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while landing in a snow-covered, unimproved landing zone, the helicopter drifted rearward, the tail rotor struck a snowbank, and the helicopter began to spin to the right. The pilot reduced the throttle setting to off and applied left pedal to reduce the spin, but the helicopter drifted to the right and the right skid impacted snow. The helicopter subsequently rolled over and impacted terrain. The tailboom and the main and tail rotor drive systems were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8612F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8612F), registered now, S/N 570142D, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D - Registry model: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (registry code 4470706) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 250HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (registry code 03002, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 570142D - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 21451.2 - Engines: ALLISON 250-C20R 250 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 8, 2021, 1.9 hours before - Departed: 1S2, Darrington, WA - Destination: Winthrop, WA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: S52, Methow Valley State - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 29, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 8,125 total, 575 in this make and model, 8,025 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 20 °F - Altimeter: 30.32 inHg - Observed at: S52, 3.1 nm away ## 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 20210109012779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210109012779A), Jan 9, 2021: Hughes 369D, Winthrop, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot stated he was flying into a lading spot that was previously cleared of snow at a hotel in methow WA. Pilot stated he flew over the landing area, and from… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 1, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102514. 4.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12331851&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1-Completed011721%20JB_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 4 photos, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12428303&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR21LA084%20Photos%20v2-Rel.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.