Hughes 369D N1113L
18 December 2003 · Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 18 December 2003 at about 02:30 local time, a Hughes 369D registered N1113L was involved in an accident near Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States. One person was 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 02:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States
- Coordinates
- 21.4836, -158.0439
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D
- Registration
- N1113L
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
- Purpose of flight
- Other Work Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Wahiawa → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX04LA116
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to properly secure the external sling load, which allowed the load to shift, and subsequently strike and remove the tail rotor.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The commercial helicopter pilot was transporting a sling load of ladders taped together and suspended by a 15-foot line. During the flight, the load shifted, and a ladder struck the tail rotor. The tail rotor separated from the helicopter, and the pilot initiated an emergency autorotation. The helicopter landed at an off-airport site and rolled onto its side. According to the operator's FAA-approved flight manual for external loads, the pilot has the sole responsibility to ensure that the load is properly rigged.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Hughes 369 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Jul 2003 | Hughes 369D | Ketchikan, Alaska, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 19 Jul 2003 | Hughes 369HS | Sevenoaks, Kent, United Kingdom | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 30 Jun 2003 | Hughes 369D | Chung Cheong, Republic Of Korea | Heli Korea | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Dec 2003 | Hughes 369D | Moclips, Washington, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 2 Apr 2003 | Hughes 369D | Estes Park, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 31 Mar 2003 | Hughes 369D | Tyonek, Alaska, United States | Prism Helicopters Inc. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Nov 2003 | Suminski COZY LONG EZ | Maui, Hawaii, United States | William B. Swears | Serious injuries | - |
| 15 Jun 2003 | McDonnell Douglas 369D | Volcano, Hawaii, United States | - | Fatal | 4 |
| 25 Jan 2003 | Cessna 172N | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 23 Jul 2003 | Bell 206B | Waialeale, Kauai, Hawaii, United States | - | Fatal | 5 |
| 22 May 2003 | Bell UH-1H | Kahoolawe, Hawaii, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 26 Jun 2003 | Hughes 369D | Kualapuu, Hawaii, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |