Hughes 369D accident near Columbus, MT
On May 28, 2007, a Hughes 369D (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Columbus, MT. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 28, 2007
- Place
- Columbus, MT
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 2 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 45.723°N, 109.155°W
- NTSB ID
- 20070612X00715
Official records · SEA07LA135
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On May 28, 2007, approximately 1340 mountain daylight time, a Hughes 369D helicopter, N765HV, impacted the terrain during an attempted forced landing, after experiencing a complete loss of engine power near Columbus, Montana. The commercial pilot and one crewmember received serious injuries, and a second crewmember was killed. The helicopter, which was owned by Dylan Aviation, LLC., and operated by Haverfield Corporation, was destroyed by the impact and post-crash fire. The 14 CFR Part 91 aerial observation flight, which departed Billings Logan International Airport, Billings, Montana, about 50 minutes prior to the accident, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. The flight, for which a company visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan had been filed and activated, was intended to terminate back at Billings. The ELT was activated by the accident sequence. According to the pilot, the helicopter, which was being used for comprehensive visual inspection of power lines and power line support structures, was in a stationary hover about 120 above ground level (AGL), when it experienced a sudden and complete loss of engine power. The pilot, who's direction of maneuver was limited by the presence of the power line support structure that was being inspected, initiated an autorotation to an emergency forced landing. Although the helicopter contacted the relatively level grassy ground in a upright attitude, the impact forces where high enough that both front seat crewmembers sustained serious injuries, and the helicopter's airframe was distorted. The two front seat crewme
Probable cause
The fatigue failure of a turbine blade due to a localized over-temperature of the turbine section as result of a non-uniform fuel distribution by the fuel nozzle. Contributing to the accident was the close proximity of a power line support structure which restricted maneuverability for a successful autorotation.
More accidents in MT
- Pilatus PC-12/45, Mar 22, 2009
- Beech D18S, Jul 5, 1987
- Cessna 550, Dec 18, 1992
- Beech V35B, Jun 24, 1982
- Cessna 182C, May 12, 2007
Browse: Montana · Hughes aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
