Hughes 369D N111AD

Summary

On 21 December 2021 at about 17:30 local time, a Hughes 369D registered N111AD, operated by Southwest Helicservices LLC, was involved in an accident near Strawberry, Arizona, 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

21 December 2021 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Strawberry, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

N/A (N/A)

Coordinates

34.3916, -111.6071

Aircraft

Hughes 369D

Registration

N111AD

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1980

Engines

1

Operator

Southwest Helicservices LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Strawberry → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR22LA078

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a static wire during approach.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter pilot reported that, during an approach to an off-airport construction project landing zone, the helicopter struck a static wire that had been recently positioned above the landing area. The helicopter’s main rotor blades contacted the wire which resulted in substantial damage to the blades. The pilot was unaware of the static wire and did not observe it during the approach. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunction or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.