# NTSB WPR22LA078: Hughes 369D, N111AD, Strawberry, AZ, December 21, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 21, 2021, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Strawberry, AZ · Landing Zone near dirt road in remote area. - Coordinates: 34.391639, -111.60708 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3916&lon=-111.6071&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 104520 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104520/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104520 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA078 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a static wire during approach. ## 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) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=4470706), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=4470706), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=4470706), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The helicopter pilot reported that, during an approach to an off-airport construction project landing zone, the helicopter struck a static wire that had been recently positioned above the landing area. The helicopter’s main rotor blades contacted the wire which resulted in substantial damage to the blades. The pilot was unaware of the static wire and did not observe it during the approach. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunction or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N111AD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N111AD), registered now, S/N 400704D, built 1980 (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: [Rolls-Royce 250-C20B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20b) (registry code 54385, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 400704D - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 2480.1 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: Southwest Helicservices LLC - Registered owner: Svp LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Strawberry, AZ - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: N/A, N/A - Equipment: ADS-B, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 5, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 6,700 total, 2,566 in this make and model, 6,650 as pilot in command, 225 in the last 90 days, 89 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: KPAN, 16 nm away - METAR: METAR KPAN 211655Z AUTO 06004KT 10SM CLR 09/M04 A3027 RMK AO2 ## 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 20211221021329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211221021329A), Dec 21, 2021: Hughes 369D, Strawberry, AZ, Substantial damage. On Tuesday, 12/21/2021, at approximately 10:30 MST, N111AD, a 1980 Hughes (MD) model 369D helicopter, serial number 400704D, landed safely after the main rotor… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 18, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104520. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13331244&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident pictures (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 741 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13331653&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA078%20Accident%20Pictures-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.