Hughes 500D C-GLHQ
27 June 2011 · Ambler, Alaska, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 27 June 2011 at about 17:25 local time, a Hughes 500D registered C-GLHQ, operated by Prism Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Ambler, Alaska, 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 17:25
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Ambler, Alaska, United States
- Coordinates
- 67.1000, -157.8500
- Aircraft
- Hughes 500D
- Registration
- C-GLHQ
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Prism Helicopters
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Ambler → Ambler
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC11CA056
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's misalignment of the helicopter on the landing structure.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The helicopter pilot landed a high skid, turbine-powered helicopter at a remote drilling site, and the three passengers disembarked. The remote landing site was constructed of 6-inch by 6-inch wooden beams, which required that the pilot land perpendicular to and on the beams with the helicopter's skids. The pilot reported that after landing he retarded the engine throttle to flight idle to begin the mandatory 2 minute engine cool down procedure. He then got out of the helicopter to check the placement of the helicopter's skids on the beams, and it subsequently tipped backwards, with the tail rotor striking terrain. A postaccident inspection revealed that while landing, the pilot inadvertently placed the helicopter's skids behind the aft wooden beam, and the helicopter tipped backwards once the pilot exited the helicopter. The pilot said there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the helicopter. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom, tail rotor drive system, and tail rotor gearbox.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Hughes 500 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Nov 2011 | Hughes 500 | Andratx, Spain | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 5 Jul 2011 | Hughes 500D | McGrath, Alaska, United States | Soloy Helicopters LLC | No injuries | - |
| 6 May 2010 | Hughes 500 | West Palm Beach, Florida, United States | County of Gwinnett Georgia | No injuries | - |
| 6 Aug 2013 | Hughes 500D | Delta Junction, Alaska, United States | Soloy Helicopters LLC | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 2005 | Hughes 500D | Ambler, Alaska, United States | Prism Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jul 2004 | Hughes 500D | Iliamna, Alaska, United States | Prism Helicopters Ltd | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Aug 2011 | De Havilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A) | Northway, Alaska, United States | Copper Valley Air Service LLC | No injuries | - |
| 17 Aug 2011 | Piper PA-18-180 | Valdez, Alaska, United States | Erik F. Hursh | No injuries | - |
| 18 Aug 2011 | Piper PA-20 | Tyonek, Alaska, United States | Randy F. Stahl | No injuries | - |
| 29 Nov 2011 | Cessna 207 | Chuathbaluk, Alaska, United States | Inland Aviation | Fatal | 1 |
| 23 Nov 2011 | Cessna A185F | Talkeetna, Alaska, United States | Sheldon Air Service | No injuries | - |
| 12 Jun 2011 | Cessna 180H | Skwentna, Alaska, United States | Russey Reagan | No injuries | - |