Hughes 369E N500AR

Summary

On 15 August 2022 at about 15:15 local time, a Hughes 369E registered N500AR, operated by Helicopter Roundup Service LLC, was involved in an accident near Ely, Nevada, 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

15 August 2022 at 15:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Ely, Nevada, United States

Coordinates

39.6952, -115.0875

Aircraft

Hughes 369E

Registration

N500AR

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1985

Engines

1

Operator

Helicopter Roundup Service LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ely → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR22LA305

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at a low altitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, he was using a helicopter to drive horses and misjudged his height above the terrain when a horse unexpectedly turned toward him. He pulled back on the cyclic, the tail rotor struck the terrain, and the helicopter immediately started a yaw to the right. The pilot rolled the throttle off to slow the turn and cushioned the landing by adding collective. Once outside the helicopter the pilot noticed that the tail rotor driveshaft had sustained substantial damage. The 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.