Hughes 369D C-GLHQ

Summary

On 11 July 2004 at about 22:15 local time, a Hughes 369D registered C-GLHQ, operated by Prism Helicopters Ltd, was involved in an accident near Nome, Alaska, United States. 3 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 July 2004 at 22:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Nome, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

65.5411, -167.3919

Aircraft

Hughes 369D

Registration

C-GLHQ

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Prism Helicopters Ltd

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Nome → Nome

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC04LA077

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions while the helicopter was standing, which resulted in the coasting main rotor blade contacting the tail boom. A factor associated with the accident was the gusty wind condition.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial helicopter pilot said he landed on a ridge where he had landed several times that day. He said he shut down the engine, and was applying the main rotor brake when a gust of wind lifted the forward blades, which allowed the aft moving blades to strike the tail boom. The pilot said there had been a steady 20 knot wind blowing at the site all day, but there were no problems with wind gusts on the previous landings. The main rotor blades and tail boom were damaged during the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.