Hughes 269C N9592F

Summary

On 15 November 1989 at about 21:00 local time, a Hughes 269C registered N9592F, operated by Helicopter Enterprises, was involved in an accident near Estacada, Oregon, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 November 1989 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Estacada, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

45.1994, -122.0603

Aircraft

Hughes 269C

Registration

N9592F

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Helicopter Enterprises

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA90LA016

1 person died.

THE PILOT MISJUDGED CLEARANCE BETWEEN HER EXTERNAL LOAD AND THE OBSTRUCTION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE OBSTRUCTION, IMPROPER MAINTENANCE AND MODIFICATION OF THE EXTERNAL LOAD LINE/HOOK BY THE OPERATOR, FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO JETTISON THE EXTERNAL LOAD, AND A FAILURE OF THE OPERATOR MANAGEMENT TO ASSURE THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED ADEQUATE TRAINING/CERTIFICATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USE IN AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPN TO MOVE CHRISTMAS TREES FROM A FIELD TO A DROP ZONE (DZ) FOR LOADING ON A TRUCK. DURING AN APCH TO THE DZ, THE PLT DID NOT MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE OR CLEARANCE TO KEEP THE LOAD CLEAR OF OBSTRUCTIONS. SUBSEQUENTLY, SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER & IT TRAVELED 100 TO 200 FT BACKWARDS. IT THEN HIT THE GROUND TAIL 1ST, ROLLED OVER & WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED. TREES WERE SCATTERED BETWEEN THE OBJECT & THE MAIN WRECKAGE. AN EXAM REVEALED THE PLT HAD ONLY A MANUAL MEANS OF RELEASING THE LOAD AT THE HELICOPTER. THE ELECTRICAL RELEASE SYS HAD BEEN REWIRED TO PROVIDE POWER TO THE BOTTOM HOOK ONLY. ONE OF THE GROUND PSNL RPRTD THE HOOK HAD BEEN MALFUNCTIONING. THE PLT HAD 5 HRS OF DUAL TIME & 8 HRS OF PLT-IN-COMMAND TIME IN EXTERNAL LOAD OPNS; HOWEVER, SHE DID NOT POSSESS THE REQUIRED LETTER OF COMPETENCY FOR THIS OPN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.