Hughes 369 N618SG

Summary

On 1 February 2018 at about 17:45 local time, a Hughes 369 registered N618SG, operated by Western Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Wrightwood, California, United States. 3 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

1 February 2018 at 17:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Wrightwood, California, United States

Coordinates

34.2089, -117.4036

Aircraft

Hughes 369

Registration

N618SG

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1982

Engines

1

Operator

Western Helicopters, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Riverside → Wrightwood

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA117

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s high altitude, high gross weight landing with insufficient tail rotor thrust resulting in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter pilot selected a landing site on a ridge above 8,000 ft mean sea level and initiated an approach. The helicopter descended below effective translational lift airspeed, and the pilot turned the nose of the helicopter to the right. The helicopter developed a rapid right yaw, and he applied full left pedal to arrest the yaw and forward cyclic to fly out of the condition, but the main rotor blades struck the ground. The helicopter came to rest on its left side, and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, the tailboom and both rotor systems. The pilot reported that the maximum gross weight of the helicopter was 3,000 pounds, and the weight of the helicopter at the time of the accident was 2,700 pounds. According to the recommendation section of the National Transportation Safety Board pilot's aircraft accident report, the pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if the helicopter wasn't so heavy. Additionally, he noted that he should have selected a better landing area with the landing direction into the wind. Per the Federal Aviation Administration Helicopter Flying Handbook pg. 11-20, "Loss of Tail Rotor Effectiveness [LTE]," when operating at high altitudes and high gross weights, especially while hovering, the tail rotor thrust may not be sufficient to maintain directional control, and LTE can occur. In this case, the hovering ceiling is limited by tail rotor thrust and not necessarily power available. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.