Hughes 369D N533DR

Summary

On 13 July 2023 at about 21:15 local time, a Hughes 369D registered N533DR, operated by Heinen Bros Ag, was involved in an accident near Atchison, 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

13 July 2023 at 21:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Atchison, Kansas, United States

Coordinates

39.6356, -95.0968

Aircraft

Hughes 369D

Registration

N533DR

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1979

Engines

1

Operator

Heinen Bros Ag

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN23LA308

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to adequately survey a field for obstructions prior to a low-level aerial application pass, which resulted in an impact with a powerline.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during an aerial application pass in a helicopter, he failed to observe a second lower powerline near a previously observed high-tension powerline. The pilot attempted to maneuver under the lower powerline but was unsuccessful, and the helicopter impacted the lower powerline and subsequently the terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, the tail boom, and the tail rotor system. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.