Hughes 369HS N9238F
30 May 1989 · Niagara Falls, New York, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 30 May 1989 at about 21:45 local time, a Hughes 369HS registered N9238F, operated by Rainbow Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Niagara Falls, New York, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 21:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Niagara Falls, New York, United States
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369HS
- Registration
- N9238F
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Rainbow Helicopters, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Goat Island → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC89LA171
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Probable cause
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SEE AND AVOID THE CABLES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
DURING A SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT OVER THE PARK AREA OF NIAGARA FALLS, THE HELICOPTER FLEW INTO CABLES THAT WERE USED TO TRANSPORT CABLE CARS ACROSS THE GORGE FOR A SKYVIEW OF THE WHIRPOOL. AFTER THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE CABLES, IT JERKED ABOUT. THE PILOT MANEUVERED THE HELICOPTER ONTO A GOLF COURSE AND THE PASSENGERS JUMPED CLEAR OF THE CRAFT UNHURT. THE PILOT THEN LANDED THE HELICOPTER AND SHUT OFF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Hughes 369 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Nov 1989 | Hughes 369D | Stayton, Oregon, United States | Associated Helicopter Svcs | No injuries | - |
| 22 Oct 1989 | Hughes 369HS | Ogilvie, Minnesota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Dec 1989 | Hughes 369E | Stroud, Oklahoma, United States | Tulsa Police Dept | No injuries | - |
| 15 Nov 1989 | Hughes 369HS | North Adams, Massachusetts, United States | King Services Inc. | Fatal | 2 |
| 31 Mar 1989 | Hughes 369D | Vallejo, California, United States | Helinet, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 9 Dec 1989 | Hughes 369HS | Waimea, Hawaii, United States | Air Kaui, Inc. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jul 1989 | Cessna 185 | Fishers, New York, United States | Paul V. Hyland | No injuries | - |
| 3 Jul 1989 | Cessna 152 | Plattsburgh, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 9 Jul 1989 | Cessna 177A | Akron, New York, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 2 Jul 1989 | Cessna 152 | Oneida, New York, United States | BFB Associates | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jul 1989 | Piper PA-28-160 | Hammond, New York, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 14 Jul 1989 | Cessna 182A | Lancaster, New York, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |