Hughes 369HS N11ZX

Summary

On 25 May 2012 at about 22:35 local time, a Hughes 369HS registered N11ZX, operated by Teryjon Aviation, Inc., was involved in an accident near Delavan, Minnesota, United States. One person was on board and 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

25 May 2012 at 22:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Delavan, Minnesota, United States

Nearest airport

Fairmont Municipal (FRM)

Coordinates

43.7681, -94.0183

Aircraft

Hughes 369HS

Registration

N11ZX

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Teryjon Aviation, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Delavan → Delavan

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12CA319

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance with power lines during an aerial application flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was spraying a drainage ditch when he encountered a railroad track embankment. He increased altitude to clear the tracks, but, as he descended back into the ditch on the opposite side of the tracks to continue spraying, he observed a set of power lines in his flight path. He attempted to maneuver to avoid the lines, but the left landing skid of the helicopter struck the lines. The helicopter subsequently impacted an adjacent corn field about 250 feet from the power lines. The pilot was seriously injured, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and tailboom. The pilot reported that there were no failures or malfunctions related to the helicopter before the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.