Hughes 369HS N49TJ

Summary

On 21 October 2003 at about 13:45 local time, a Hughes 369HS registered N49TJ was involved in an accident near Evansville, Minnesota, 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

21 October 2003 at 13:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Evansville, Minnesota, United States

Coordinates

46.0917, -95.7333

Aircraft

Hughes 369HS

Registration

N49TJ

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lake Christina → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI04LA017

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's misjudgment of clearance from the surface of the lake during the aerial application pass. The low altitude operation, glassy water, and his visual perception were contributing factors.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter was substantially damaged during an in-flight collision with a lake while conducting an aerial application pass. The local flight was operating from a temporary load site near the lake shoreline. The pilot stated: "The conditions were calm winds, sun coming up over the trees to the east, glassy water condition. During the spray run I must [have] lost my depth perception with the water surface and allowed the skids to contact the water. The aircraft decelerated rapidly ... [and] water came up over the bubble as the aircraft pitched forward." The pilot also noted that he should have "looked at the trees along the shoreline for a vertical reference instead of at the water. With glassy water it is hard to judge distance." He reported there were no malfunctions with the aircraft or engine prior to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.