Hughes 369D N58414

Summary

On 21 July 1982 at about 03:15 local time, a Hughes 369D registered N58414, operated by Temsco Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near 35 W. of Ketchi, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

21 July 1982 at 03:15

Classification

Accident

Location

35 W. of Ketchi, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

55.6109, -131.5808

Aircraft

Hughes 369D

Registration

N58414

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Temsco Helicopters, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

35 W. of Ketchi → 35 W. of Ketchi

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA82DA120

Nobody was injured.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A SLING LOAD OPERATION WITH A 50 FT CABLE ATTACHED. AFTER THE LAST SLING LOAD WAS MOVED TO A NEW DRILLING SITE, THE PILOT ELECTED TO LEAVE THE CABLE ATTACHED SINCE THERE WAS NO SUITABLE LANDING AREA NEARBY. HE STATED THAT THE CABLE WAS TRAILING NICELY AS HE DESCENDED DOWN A 1500 FT BLUFF ABOVE THE MAIN CAMP. HOWEVER, AS HE REDUCED THE RATE OF DESCENT AND FORWARD VELOCITY, AND APPLIED POWER, THE CABLE BECAME ENGAGED IN THE TAIL ROTOR. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PILOT LOST EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND CRASHED ON A ROCKY BEACH. THE TAIL ROTOR AND TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX WERE FOUND ABOUT 100 FT FROM THE HELICOPTER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.