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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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August 16, 2005 · Hughes 369E · N500FU

Donnelly, ID

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 16, 2005
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (4 uninjured)
Location
Donnelly, ID
Aircraft
Hughes 369E
Tail Number
N500FU
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA05CA173

The pilot said that he had landed at the site several times before, but that much construction work had been done since his last visit. He said that as he descended to his landing zone, the main rotor downwash from his helicopter created "brown-out" visibility conditions. He floated past his landing spot and the helicopter's main rotor struck a tree. The pilot said that pieces of the main blades subsequently damaged the vertical and horizontal stabilizer, and the tail rotor was damaged.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance of a tree during a landing attempt due to loss of visibility from a self induced brown-out condition. Contributing factors were the pilot's failure to identify a hazardous landing site, and the tree.

Full Narrative

On August 16, 2005, at approximately 1715 mountain daylight time, a Hughes 369E, N500FU, was substantially damaged when the main rotor blade impacted a tree during a landing attempt near Donnelly, Idaho. The commercial pilot and his three passengers were not injured. Heliflite LLC, Boise, Idaho, was operating the flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight which had originated 1 hour 15 minutes before the event. A flight plan had not been filed. The pilot said that he had landed at the site several times before, but that much construction work had been done since his last visit. He said that as he descended to his landing zone, the main rotor downwash from his helicopter created "brown-out" visibility conditions. He floated past his landing spot and the helicopter's main rotor struck a tree. The pilot said that pieces of the main blades subsequently damaged the vertical and horizontal stabilizer, and the tail rotor was damaged.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:15 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHughes 369E
Tail NumberN500FU
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C20B · Turboshaft · 420
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (4 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured4
Total4
Crew 1Age 43 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind190° @ 5 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point36 C
Altimeter30.01 inHg
Observation Time22:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data