Hughes 500D N134SH

Summary

On 6 August 2013 at about 02:05 local time, a Hughes 500D registered N134SH, operated by Soloy Helicopters LLC, was involved in an accident near Delta Junction, 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.

Date

6 August 2013 at 02:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Delta Junction, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

64.0467, -145.6956

Aircraft

Hughes 500D

Registration

N134SH

Category

Helicopter

Operator

Soloy Helicopters LLC

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

External Load

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Delta Junction → Delta Junction

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC13LA074

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, which necessitated an emergency hovering autorotation, during which the helicopter impacted trees and terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was transporting sections of water hose to a remote site via a 100-ft-long external load line that was attached to the helicopter’s belly-mounted cargo hook. While the helicopter was hovering about 100 ft over the intended site and about 5 to 10 ft above trees while facing into a hill, the engine lost all power. The pilot then initiated an emergency hovering autorotation and turned the helicopter left in an attempt to face it downhill. Subsequently, the helicopter settled into trees, during which the main rotor blades impacted several of them, followed by it impacting terrain hard and rolling onto its right side, which resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor drive system, tailboom, and fuselage. During a postaccident examination, about 60 lbs of fuel were drained from the helicopter’s fuel cell; thus, fuel exhaustion did not cause the loss of power. During an engine test-run, the engine produced full-rated power at various power settings. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the available information, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.