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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

December 21, 2011 · Hughes 369D · N500TN

Fall Branch, TN

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 21, 2011
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Fall Branch, TN
Aircraft
Hughes 369D
Tail Number
N500TN
Operator
Air 2
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA12CA119

Prior to departure on a positioning flight, the pilot checked the weather and determined that visual meteorological conditions existed at both his departure and destination airports. However, while the pilot was following a highway in cruise flight at 400 feet above ground level, the ceiling rapidly became lower, and the pilot encountered instrument meteorological conditions. Moments later, while cruising at an airspeed of 65 knots, the pilot saw marker balls, which indicated that power lines were directly in front of the helicopter. The pilot lowered the collective and entered a right diving turn in order to avoid the wires, but one of the main rotor blades made contact. The rotor speed remained within limits, but the helicopter began to vibrate, so the pilot decided to land in a nearby field. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed that the main rotor blade that had made contact with the power line was substantially damaged.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper decision to continue a visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a wire strike.

Full Narrative

Prior to departure on a positioning flight, the pilot of the helicopter checked the weather and determined that visual meteorological conditions existed at both his departure and destination airports. However, while in cruise flight at 400 feet above ground level while following a highway, the ceiling rapidly became lower, and the pilot encountered instrument meteorological conditions. Moments later at an airspeed of 65 knots, marker balls appeared which indicated that power lines were directly in front of him. He lowered the collective and entered a right diving turn in order to avoid the wires but one of his main rotor blades made contact with a power line. The rotor speed remained within limits but the helicopter began to vibrate. As a result, the pilot decided to land in a nearby field. Post accident examination of the helicopter revealed that the main rotor blade that had made contact with the power line was substantially damaged.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:15 EST
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Flight Plan ActivatedUnknown
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHughes 369D
Tail NumberN500TN
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAir 2
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsRolls-Royce · 250-C20R/2 · Turboshaft · 450
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 32 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind230° @ 10 kt
Visibility1 sm
CeilingOvercast 400 ft
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 57
Altimeter29.89 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data