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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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NTSB Report

October 20, 1982 · Hughes 369D · N31PL

Coaltown, PA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 20, 1982
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 serious injuries)
Location
Coaltown, PA
Aircraft
Hughes 369D
Tail Number
N31PL
Operator
Evergreen Helicopter
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC83FGM01

THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE PATROLLING ALONG THE WEST'SIDE OF A POWER LINE FROM SOUTH TO NORTH. WHILE PATROLLING THE PILOT WAS MAINTAINING AN ALTITUDE OF 75 TO 100 FT AGL AT 20 TO 30 KTS WITH AN 8 TO 10 KT TAIL WIND. HE REPORTED THAT HE WAS DESCENDING DOWN A RIDGE WHEN THE HELICOPTER BEGAN A SLOW YAW TO THE RIGHT. HE STATED THAT FULL LEFT PEDDLE WAS USELESS AND THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO YAW TO THE RIGHT. HE REDUCED THE COLLECTIVE TO CONTROL THE RATE OF THE TURN, BUT BEGAN DESCENDING TOWARD THE WIRES. HE THEN INCREASED THE COLLECTIVE AND ADDED RIGHT CYCLIC TO AVOID THE WIRES. AFTER SPINNING 2 OR 3 TIMES, HE REDUCED THE POWER AND COLLECTIVE AND BEGAN AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING. DURING THE LANDING, THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD IN A WOODED AREA. A POST IMPACT FIRE DESTROYED THE FUSELAGE FROM STATION 164 FORWARD.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE PATROLLING ALONG THE WEST'SIDE OF A POWER LINE FROM SOUTH TO NORTH. WHILE PATROLLING THE PILOT WAS MAINTAINING AN ALTITUDE OF 75 TO 100 FT AGL AT 20 TO 30 KTS WITH AN 8 TO 10 KT TAIL WIND. HE REPORTED THAT HE WAS DESCENDING DOWN A RIDGE WHEN THE HELICOPTER BEGAN A SLOW YAW TO THE RIGHT. HE STATED THAT FULL LEFT PEDDLE WAS USELESS AND THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO YAW TO THE RIGHT. HE REDUCED THE COLLECTIVE TO CONTROL THE RATE OF THE TURN, BUT BEGAN DESCENDING TOWARD THE WIRES. HE THEN INCREASED THE COLLECTIVE AND ADDED RIGHT CYCLIC TO AVOID THE WIRES. AFTER SPINNING 2 OR 3 TIMES, HE REDUCED THE POWER AND COLLECTIVE AND BEGAN AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING. DURING THE LANDING, THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD IN A WOODED AREA. A POST IMPACT FIRE DESTROYED THE FUSELAGE FROM STATION 164 FORWARD.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:30 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHughes 369D
Tail NumberN31PL
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorEvergreen Helicopter
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250 · Turboshaft · 400
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (3 serious injuries)
Fatal0
Serious3
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 35 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind140° @ 8 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data