Hughes 369 N104SU

Summary

On 5 August 2020 at about 22:45 local time, a Hughes 369 registered N104SU, operated by Signature Utility, was involved in an accident near Delia, Kansas, 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

5 August 2020 at 22:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Delia, Kansas, United States

Coordinates

39.2600, -95.9886

Aircraft

Hughes 369

Registration

N104SU

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1977

Engines

1

Operator

Signature Utility

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

External Load

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Delia → Delia

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN20CA334

Nobody was injured.

Foreign object damage sustained to the main rotor blades due to aerial tree trimming.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While conducting an aerial tree-trimming flight with an external load aerial saw, the pilot heard a loud “thump” and felt a collision. A heavy vibration was felt, and the pilot landed in a nearby cornfield without further incident. Upon landing substantial damage was found to the main rotor blades with embedded pieces of tree bark and vegetation found in the blades. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions that contributed to the accident. The aerial saw was suspended about 120 ft below the helicopter. The operator noted that this distance is normally adequate to prevent foreign object damage (FOD) to the main rotor blades.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.