Hughes 369 N61735

Summary

On 22 July 2009 at about 15:25 local time, a Hughes 369 registered N61735, operated by Utility Helicopters Inc., was involved in an accident near Franklin, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 July 2009 at 15:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Franklin, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

39.8069, -79.6828

Aircraft

Hughes 369

Registration

N61735

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Utility Helicopters Inc.

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

External Load

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Franklin → Franklin

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09FA414

1 person died.

A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's fuel mismanagement.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter was proceeding to a nearby landing location with an external load of seismic monitoring equipment. Several individuals on the ground heard the pilot talking on their communication frequency. Most of the communication was inaudible; however, several witnesses heard the pilot say that he was "going into the tree[s]." The helicopter was located in an open area near the edge of a tree line. The wreckage was confined within the immediate crash area, except for the external load; which was located 281 feet away in the wooded area. The helicopter had come to rest upright. The main rotor and tail rotor blades exhibited little damage to the leading edges. Approximately three drops of fuel was located throughout the helicopter's fuel system, and no fuel was located in or around the helicopter. No evidence of precrash mechanical failure of the helicopter structure, flight controls, systems, or engine were found.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.