Hughes 500D N51516
7 July 1989 · Williamson, West Virginia, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 7 July 1989 at about 16:40 local time, a Hughes 500D registered N51516 was involved in an accident near Williamson, West Virginia, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 16:40
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Williamson, West Virginia, United States
- Coordinates
- 37.6696, -82.2695
- Aircraft
- Hughes 500D
- Registration
- N51516
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Pikesville
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- BFO89LA055
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Probable cause
PILOT'S FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE WIRE WHICH CROSSED THE END OF THE FIELD IN WHICH HE WAS TAKING OFF.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PLT REPORTED THAT AS THE HELICOPTER LIFTED OFF FROM AN OPEN FILED, A SEVERE VIBRATION WAS EXPERIENCED AND THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED TO TERRAIN IMPACT. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE ROTOR BLADES HAD CONTACTED AN UNMARKED WIRE WHICH CROSSED NEAR THE EDGE OF THE FIELD. A PORTION OF ONE ROTOR BLADE SEPARATED FROM THE HELICOPTER AND TRAVELED APRX 75 YARDS PRIOR TO CONTACTING A PARKED CAR.THE PLT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES/MALFUNCTIONS OF THE HELICOPTER AND THAT SUN GLARE WAS NOT A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Hughes 500 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Jan 1989 | Hughes 500-D | Bell Mountain, Alaska, United States | Soloy, L.c. | No injuries | - |
| 19 Aug 1988 | Hughes 500 | Riviera Beach, Florida, United States | Trafficopters, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 4 Oct 1990 | Hughes 500D | Kennsington, Alaska, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 8 Oct 1988 | Hughes 500C | Branson, Missouri, United States | Tablerock Helicopters Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 22 May 1991 | Hughes 500-D | Togiak, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Sep 1986 | Hughes 500 (369HS) | West Lafayette, Indiana, United States | R. J. Dubray | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Apr 1989 | Beechcraft C35 | Rupert, West Virginia, United States | JON M. Metz | Fatal | 4 |
| 28 Jul 1989 | Piper PA-24-250 | True, West Virginia, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 19 Jan 1989 | Piper PA-38-112 | Elkview, West Virginia, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 31 Jan 1989 | Cessna 172F | Bruceton Mills, West Virginia, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 23 Mar 1989 | Cessna 170A | Ravenswood, West Virginia, United States | William F. Meese | No injuries | - |
| 19 Apr 1989 | Cessna 150F | New Cumberland, West Virginia, United States | Alex Wright | No injuries | - |