# NTSB WPR23LA063: Hughes 369D, N458HW, La Sal, UT, December 8, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 8, 2022, 11:15, time zone not recorded
- Place: La Sal, UT
- Coordinates: 38.44388, -109.24262
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4439&lon=-109.2426&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- 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: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106442
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA063
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106442/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106442
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA063

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain during a toe-in landing to sloping terrain which resulted in a loss of helicopter control.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [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)
- [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=4470706), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/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: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=4470706), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, while the helicopter was in a stable hover against a mountain slope [toe-in landing], there was suddenly a “big bang”, and the helicopter began to descend and violently shuddered. He attempted to maneuver away from the slope, but the helicopter slid down the slope then came to rest on its left side. The pilot suspected a loose rock may have fell into the main rotor system or the main rotor blades contacted the slope. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, main rotor, and tail cone. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N458HW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N458HW), registered now, S/N 390483D, built 1979 (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: 390483D
- Year built: 1979
- Engines: Rolls-Royce turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Operator: Heliwild Investments LLC
- Registered owner: Heliwild Investments LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: N/A
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 21, 2022; seat: right; flight hours: 5,536 total, 1,400 in this make and model, 5,450 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours
- Other flight crew; age 34; injuries: none

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 12 °F, dew point 23 °F

## 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 20221208020979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221208020979A), Dec 8, 2022: Hughes 369D, La Sal, UT, Substantial damage. At approximately, 11:15(l), the pilot maneuvered the aircraft close to a steep mountain slope performing a toe-in landing against the steep slope to allow the…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 31, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106442. 2.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14850470&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Pilot%20Report%206120%201%20Form%202018%20copy_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 700 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14850148&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20for%20WPR23LA063-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.

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