Hughes 369D N48MP

Summary

On 6 June 2007 at about 12:50 local time, a Hughes 369D registered N48MP was involved in an accident near Troy, Oregon, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 June 2007 at 12:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Troy, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

45.9332, -117.4547

Aircraft

Hughes 369D

Registration

N48MP

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Troy → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA07LA147

1 person was seriously injured.

The inadvertent entanglement of the crewmemeber's helmet's communication cord with the structure of the helicopter during the helicopter's ascent, which resulted in the crewmember being elevated above ground level before the helmet's cord separated, resulting in the crewmember falling into an apple tree. A factor was the pilot's diminished visual lookout.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After landing and observing the crewmember unbuckle his seat belt, disconnect his headset communication cord and exit the helicopter, the pilot initiated a vertical takeoff; the pilot did not observe the crewmember as he ascended. About 10 to 15 feet above the ground the pilot sensed something similar to a load being released from the helicopter, and after repositioning the helicopter he observed the crewmember in an apple tree. The crewmember's headset's radio cord had become inadvertently entangled with the structure of the helicopter, separating after the aircraft initiated its ascent, resulting in the crewmember falling into the apple tree. It could not be determined where the helmets cord became entangled with the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.