Hughes 369D N11AS

Summary

On 5 November 2024 at about 18:00 local time, a Hughes 369D registered N11AS, operated by Aviation Advantage LLC, was involved in an accident near Waycross, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 November 2024 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Waycross, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Waycross-Ware County (AYS)

Coordinates

31.2484, -82.3954

Aircraft

Hughes 369D

Registration

N11AS

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1979

Engines

1

Operator

Aviation Advantage LLC

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

External Load

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Waycross → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA25LA040

1 person had minor injuries.

An encounter with a foreign object, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting tree trimming operations on a power line right of way that consisted of a 10-blade aerial saw that was slung below the helicopter. During the cutting, a saw blade snagged a 1/2-inch cable that wrapped itself around the lower saw blades. A section of the cable broke off and struck the tail rotor assembly, damaging the stabilizers and tail rotor drive shaft. The helicopter lost all tail rotor authority and began an uncontrolled yaw, impacting the trees as it descended to the terrain where it came to rest on its left side. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the airframe and rotor blades. The operator did not report that there were any preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.