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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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December 6, 2000 · Hughes 369D · N411SM

Montrose, CO

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 6, 2000
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Montrose, CO
Aircraft
Hughes 369D
Tail Number
N411SM
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DEN01TA019

The helicopter was engaged in an animal capture program. The pilot said that the net-gunner had deployed a net over a deer, when he felt the helicopter began to "shake violently." He said that the helicopter was approximately 10 feet off the ground; he landed it with 10 to 15 knots of forward speed. After sliding approximately 10 feet, the pilot heard a loud bang, and the aircraft rolled right and forward. The helicopter came to rest on its left side with its right landing skid broken. Postaccident examination of the helicopter's main rotor blades revealed that one blade had leading edge damage that corresponded in size to a missing net weight.

NTSB Probable Cause

the foreign object damage to a main rotor blade, while maneuvering.

Full Narrative

On December 6, 2000, at approximately 1510 mountain standard time, a Hughes 369D, N411SM, was destroyed when it rolled over during a forced landinging near Montrose, Colorado. The commercial pilot and his two passengers were not injured. Helicopters by OZ, Inc., was operating the aircraft under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local public use flight that had originated at approximately 1445 from a staging area. No flight plan had been filed. The helicopter was operating under contract with the State of Colorado's Division of Wildlife, and was engaged in an animal capture program. The pilot said that the net-gunner had deployed a net over a deer when he felt the helicopter begin to "shake violently." He said that the helicopter was approximately 10 feet off the ground; he landed it with 10 to 15 knots of forward speed. After sliding approximately 10 feet, the pilot heard a loud bang, and the aircraft rolled right and forward. The helicopter came to rest on its left side with its right landing skid broken, its tail boom separated, and its main rotor blades destroyed. Postaccident examination of the helicopter's main rotor blades revealed that one blade had leading edge damage that corresponded in size to a missing net weight.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:10 MST
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHughes 369D
Tail NumberN411SM
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C20B · Turboshaft · 420
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 48 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point12 C / 64 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time21:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data