Boeing Helicopters Div H500D N8964T

Summary

On 24 July 2001 at about 23:00 local time, a Boeing Helicopters Div H500D registered N8964T was involved in an accident near Union Gap, Washington, United States. 3 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.

Date

24 July 2001 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Union Gap, Washington, United States

Coordinates

46.7190, -120.4100

Aircraft

Boeing Helicopters Div H500D

Registration

N8964T

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Yakima Air Term → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA01TA143

Nobody was injured.

The complete loss of engine power at cruise for undetermined reasons. Factors include a landing area that was restricted/confined due to adjacent trees, and an intentional abrupt flare resulting in a hard landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While cruising at 1,000 feet above the ground, the helicopter encountered an area of strong updrafts and downdrafts. As it passed through one particularly strong downdraft, the aircraft experienced a complete loss of power. The pilot then initiated an autorotation to the only available landing area. Because the area was small and surrounded by trees, the pilot found it necessary to execute an abrupt flare in order to arrest the forward movement of the helicopter prior to colliding with the trees ahead. The abrupt flare resulted in a hard landing, and the main rotor blades flexed downward far enough to sever the tail boom. Post-accident inspections of the engine and aircraft systems did not reveal any malfunctions or anomalies that would have been expected to contribute to a loss of power. Although the flight manual warned of possible fuel starvation associated with large side slip angles of uncoordinated flight with less than 35 pounds of fuel remaining, approximately 115 pounds of fuel were drained from the helicopter's main fuel bladder.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.