Hughes 269B N9474F

Summary

On 4 June 1995 at about 14:18 local time, a Hughes 269B registered N9474F was involved in an accident near Caldwell, Idaho, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 June 1995 at 14:18

Classification

Accident

Location

Caldwell, Idaho, United States

Coordinates

43.6596, -116.6295

Aircraft

Hughes 269B

Registration

N9474F

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA95LA112

1 person had minor injuries.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM POWER LINES. FACTORS INCLUDE SUNGLARE ENCOUNTERED WHEN HE TURNED INTO THE SUN.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS RETURNING FROM AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATIONS WHEN HE ELECTED TO LOOK OVER THE NEXT FIELD HE WAS GOING TO SPRAY. HE SAID HIS INTENT WAS TO FLY AROUND A HOUSE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE FIELD AND THEN DROP DOWN TO FLY PARALLEL TO THE POWER LINES ORIENTED EAST-WEST BETWEEN TWO FIELDS. AS HE BANKED AROUND THE HOUSE AND FLEW EAST INTO THE SUN, HE DID NOT SEE THE HOUSE'S POWER POLE AND ASSOCIATED SERVICE LINE. THE ROTORCRAFT IMPACTED THE SERVICE LINE APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET AGL AND IMPACTED THE GROUND 150 FEET FURTHER EAST.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.