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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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May 5, 1985 · Hughes 369D · N8365F

Spokane, WA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 5, 1985
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Spokane, WA
Aircraft
Hughes 369D
Tail Number
N8365F
Operator
Clifford D Richey
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA85FA104

The helicopter was on a flight to a TV station to transport a TV cameraman and his gear. The regular pilot for this trip was unable to fly, so another was retained for the flight. This was his first flight to the station. Helicopter operations at the TV station were conducted from a parking lot. An unmarked area in the northeast corner of the parking lot was intended to be used as a helipad. Operations to the helipad required that the helicopter be maneuvered in the vicinity of TV towers and guy wires. One double strand of guy wires crossed over the parking lot between the center and far corner of the parking lot, away from the helipad, near the TV station building. Witnesses reported that the pilot entered the parking lot from the northeast and landed near two light standards below the double strand of guy wires. He egressed and helped the cameraman without shutting down the engine. During takeoff, the main rotor blades hit a guy wire and the helicopter crashed and burned in the parking lot, a short distance from the lift-off point.

Full Narrative

THE HELICOPTER WAS ON A FLT TO A TV STATION TO TRANSPORT A TV CAMERA MAN & HIS GEAR. THE REGULAR PLT FOR THIS TRIP WAS UNABLE TO FLY, SO ANOTHER WAS RETAINED FOR THE FLT. THIS WAS HIS 1ST FLT TO THE STATION. HELICOPTER OPERATIONS AT THE TV STATION WERE CONDUCTED FROM A PARKING LOT. AN UNMARKED AREA IN THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE PARKING LOT WAS INTENDED TO BE USED AS A HELIPAD. OPERATIONS TO THE HELIPAD REQUIRED THAT THE HELICOPTER BE MANEUVERED IN THE VICINITY OF TV TOWERS & GUY WIRES. ONE DOUBLE STRAND OF GUY WIRES CROSSED OVER THE PARKING LOT BETWEEN THE CENTER & FAR CORNER OF THE PARKING LOT, AWAY FROM THE HELIPAD, NEAR THE TV STATION (BUILDING). WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE PLT ENTERED THE PARKING LOT FROM THE NORTHEAST & LANDED NEAR 2 LIGHT STANDARDS BELOW THE DOUBLE STRAND OF GUY WIRES. HE EGRESSED & HELPED THE CAMERA MAN WITHOUT SHUTTING DOWN THE ENG. DURING TAKEOFF, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES HIT A GUY WIRE & THE HELICOPTER CRASHED & BURNED IN THE PARKING LOT, A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE LIFT-OFF POINT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:35 PDT
Nearest AirportUnmarked Helipad (0nm N)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHughes 369D
Tail NumberN8365F
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorClifford D Richey
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C20B · Turboshaft · 375
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 49 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility15 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 25000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point46 / 37 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time14:48
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data