Hughes 369D N8353F

Summary

On 11 April 2002 at about 19:30 local time, a Hughes 369D registered N8353F, operated by U.S. Fish and Wildlife, was involved in an accident near Richland, Washington, United States. 4 people were 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

11 April 2002 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Richland, Washington, United States

Coordinates

46.4167, -119.5842

Aircraft

Hughes 369D

Registration

N8353F

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Richland → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA02TA067

Nobody was injured.

Failure of the netting material securing a net weight while maneuvering. The net weight was a factor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During an aerial animal capture flight, the helicopter was positioned about 15 feet above ground level over the elk for capture. The pilot positioned the helicopter to get the gunner into firing position and told the gunner to get ready. When ready, the gunner fired the net. Immediately after the shot, a loud bang was heard and the helicopter began to vibrate. The pilot landed the helicopter without further incident. After the main rotor blades stopped turning, it was noted that one of the blades had a hole on the leading edge that exposed the spar. Additional holes were noted on the back of the blade about two inches from the trailing edge. The net that was discharged was examined. It was noted that one of the net weights from one of the four corners was missing and had separated from the attaching material. The weight was later found about 300 feet from the net and displayed impact damage and was slightly bent.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.