McDonnell Douglas 369 N1097G

Summary

On 17 November 1989 at about 17:19 local time, a McDonnell Douglas 369 registered N1097G, operated by Helicopters International, was involved in an accident near Barstow, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 November 1989 at 17:19

Classification

Accident

Location

Barstow, California, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

McDonnell Douglas 369

Registration

N1097G

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Helicopters International

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Freemans Junc. → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX90LA033

1 person died.

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS DELAY IN JETTISONING THE LOAD.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT BEGAN THE EXTERNAL SLING LOAD OPERATION-STRINGING WIRE CONDUCTORS - ABT 1 HR AND 15 MIN BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. AFTER FLYING 1 HR AND 5 MIN THE PILOT LANDED AND REFUELED THE HELICOPTER AT A LANDING AREA 2 MI WEST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. AFTER REFUELING HE DEPARTED ON THE ACCIDENT FLT. VIDEO TAPE SHOWED THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO HOVER OVER THE TRANSMISSION STANCHION WITH THE CONDUCTOR ATTACHED TO THE LONG LINE. THE CONDUCTOR BECAME ENTANGLED WITH THE STANCHION'S CROSS BAR AND THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO CLIMB WITH THE CONDUCTOR ATTACHED AND ENTANGLED WITH THE CROSSBAR. THE HELICOPTER THEN BEGAN TO SPIN TO THE LEFT IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND CRASH.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.