Hughes 369 N175JL

Summary

On 29 April 2018 at about 15:45 local time, a Hughes 369 registered N175JL, operated by Haverfield International Inc, was involved in an accident near Newark, Ohio, United States. 2 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

29 April 2018 at 15:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Newark, Ohio, United States

Coordinates

40.1300, -82.2900

Aircraft

Hughes 369

Registration

N175JL

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1977

Engines

1

Operator

Haverfield International Inc

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Newark → Newark

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA249

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from transmission power wires, which resulted in a tail rotor strike.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The chief pilot reported that, while the pilot was working on transmission power wires, the pilot maneuvered the helicopter closer to the wires to give a better position for the other crewmember. He added that the pilot heard a noise and felt a vibration from the tail section. The pilot moved away from the wires, noticed no abnormality of flight, and returned to the landing zone without further incident. Postaccident examination revealed that the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor. The chief pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.