McDonnell Douglas 369E N444RS

Summary

On 19 August 2014 at about 16:00 local time, a McDonnell Douglas 369E registered N444RS, operated by Rotorworks LLC, was involved in an accident near Northport, Alabama, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 August 2014 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Northport, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

33.4511, -87.3875

Aircraft

McDonnell Douglas 369E

Registration

N444RS

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1990

Engines

1

Operator

Rotorworks LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tuscaloosa → Tuscaloosa

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA14FA396

2 people died.

An inadvertent collision with a utility wire for reasons that could not be determined from recorded data and examination of the helicopter and accident site.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and passenger were inspecting a span of high-tension powerlines for damage after a recent storm. Recorded data showed that the helicopter departed and proceeded along the left side of the span at an altitude roughly consistent with the height of the suspended wires. The helicopter's last recorded position was about 400 ft laterally and about 25 ft below the point where it ultimately contacted and severed the uppermost wire of the span, which was about 150 ft above ground level. The severed wire was located on the right side of the span, whereas the helicopter was flying on the left. The helicopter's ground track transitioned from left to right and back across the span near transmission towers earlier during the flight; however, there were no transmission towers located in the immediate vicinity of the accident site. Portions of the wreckage came to rest directly below the severed wire, and oriented along a debris path to the right of and along the helicopter's previous direction of travel. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures before the helicopter contacted the wire.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.