Hughes 369 N338HW

Summary

On 12 February 2018 at about 22:53 local time, a Hughes 369 registered N338HW, operated by Heliwild Investments LLC, was involved in an accident near Heber City, Utah, United States. 2 people were 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

12 February 2018 at 22:53

Classification

Accident

Location

Heber City, Utah, United States

Coordinates

40.3300, -111.0436

Aircraft

Hughes 369

Registration

N338HW

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1979

Engines

1

Operator

Heliwild Investments LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA127

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from an elk while maneuvering at a low altitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter pilot reported that he was maneuvering at a low altitude in an attempt to net an elk. When the helicopter was approximately above the elk, his attention was immediately focused forward due to a small rise in terrain. He pitched the helicopter's nose up, and the helicopter started to shake and spin. Subsequently, the helicopter struck the ground, the right skid broke, and the helicopter came to rest on its right side. Postaccident examination revealed that the tail rotor had struck the elk when the pilot pitched the helicopter's nose up. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom and rotor. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.