Hughes 369D N516PJ

Summary

On 2 September 2014 at about 20:00 local time, a Hughes 369D registered N516PJ, operated by PJ Helicopters Inc, was involved in an accident near Willows, California, 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

2 September 2014 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Willows, California, United States

Nearest airport

Willows-Glenn County (WLW)

Coordinates

39.5242, -122.2492

Aircraft

Hughes 369D

Registration

N516PJ

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1982

Engines

1

Operator

PJ Helicopters Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Willows → Willows

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR14CA363

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to adequately secure cargo (a jacket), which resulted in the jacket exiting the cabin compartment and colliding with the tail rotor during cruise flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While in cruise flight an unsecured jacket departed the helicopter through an open window. The tail rotor drive shaft sheared as a result of the jacket's contact with the tail rotors. The pilot subsequently initiated a forced landing to an orchard where during landing, the main rotors struck and separated the tailboom. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.