Hughes 369E N500FU

Summary

On 21 November 2006 at about 19:50 local time, a Hughes 369E registered N500FU was involved in an accident near Jensen, Utah, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 November 2006 at 19:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Jensen, Utah, United States

Coordinates

40.3606, -109.3364

Aircraft

Hughes 369E

Registration

N500FU

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Vernal → Jensen

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA07LA021

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the transmission wires due to an inadquate visual lookout while maneuvering during a search and rescue flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After arriving at the search and rescue site the pilot began to descend and slow the aircraft, then in the process of making two 360-degree orbits the helicopter impacted several strands of transmission wires. The aircraft subsequently descended uncontrolled, impacting the ground before sliding down sloping terrain and coming to rest partially submerged in the adjacent river. The pilot stated that he never saw the transmission wires and was not aware that they were in the area. The pilot also related that there were no anomalies with the helicopter prior to the flight. Weather at the time of the accident consisted of calm winds and clear skies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.