# NTSB WPR23LA105: Hughes 269C, N7452F, Yakima, WA, February 6, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 5, 2023, 16:30 local (Feb 6, 2023, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Yakima, WA
- Coordinates: 46.709655, -120.6724 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.7097&lon=-120.6724&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220)
- 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: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106693
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA105
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106693/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106693
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA105

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to see and avoid a powerline while flying at low altitude over a river.

## 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 269C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=4470504), [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 269C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=4470504), [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; cases with it: [Hughes 269C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=4470504), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes 269C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=4470504), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Hughes 269C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=4470504), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, while flying low along the river, the helicopter collided with an unseen wire. The pilot subsequently accomplished a landing in the shallow water of the river without further incident. A main rotor blade was 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: [N7452F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7452F), registered now, S/N 760522 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C
- Registry model: [Hughes 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (registry code 4470504) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 760522
- Year built: 1976
- Airframe hours: 3092
- Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A 190 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Halln LLC
- Registered owner: Halln LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 2, 2023
- Departed: KYKM, Yakima, WA
- Destination: KYKM, Yakima, WA
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, Satellite tracking device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 3, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 173 total, 31 in this make and model, 91 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.91 inHg
- Observed at: KYKM, 10 nm away
- METAR: METAR KYKM 060053Z AUTO 16003KT 9SM BKN120 06/03 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP136 T00610033=

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 20230205001859I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230205001859I), Feb 5, 2023: Hughes 269C, Yakima, WA, Minor damage. Aircraft struck a wire during low flight over the naches river nw of Yakima, WA.

## Other investigations on N7452F (1)

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.

- [NTSB SEA04LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA011), Oct 26, 2003: Hughes 269C (N7452F), Hillsboro, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for a practice auto rotation landing. A contributing factor was the soft terrain.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 23, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106693. 2.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15176547&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20WPR23LA105%20Flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 193 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15176557&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20photo%20WPR23LA105-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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