Hughes 369 N818CE

Summary

On 7 December 2012 at about 17:30 local time, a Hughes 369 registered N818CE, operated by Southern California Edison Co., was involved in an accident near Pasadena, California, United States. One person was 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

7 December 2012 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Pasadena, California, United States

Coordinates

34.2250, -118.1025

Aircraft

Hughes 369

Registration

N818CE

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Southern California Edison Co.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Valencia → Valencia

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR13CA071

Nobody was injured.

An unsecured headset, which struck the leading edge of a tail rotor blade. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate safety briefing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Prior to the flight, the doors were removed in order to make it easier for the passengers to board and exit the helicopter. During the safety briefing, the pilot took a headset from a pouch in the rear of the helicopter, demonstrated how to wear the headsets, and then replaced it. The pilot did not tell the passengers that the headsets needed to be replaced in the pouch after landing and before exiting the helicopter. Additionally, the pilot did not make the passengers aware of the danger associated with loose headsets in the back of the helicopter in a doors-off configuration. After the two passengers were transported to a work site location, the right rear passenger exited the helicopter and placed the headset on the hook located behind the front seats. After departing the site, about 3 to 5 minutes later while en route at an elevation of about 1,000 feet above ground level, the pilot felt something strike the helicopter. After landing and upon inspecting the helicopter, the pilot discovered that the right rear headset was missing and that the leading edge of the tail rotor had been damaged. Upon further inspection of the helicopter, the operator reported that the tail rotor drive shaft was found to be slightly egg shaped at its aft end.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.