Hughes 369D accident near Price, UT
On July 19, 2008, a Hughes 369D (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Price, UT. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 19, 2008
- Place
- Price, UT
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.616°N, 110.763°W
- NTSB ID
- 20080731X01133
Official records · LAX08FA233
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On July 19, 2008, about 1540 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Hughes 369D, N400BE, impacted terrain near Carbon County Airport (PUC), Price, Utah. BBP Air, LLC, was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The private pilot and two passengers were killed; the helicopter was destroyed by impact forces and post-crash fire. The cross-country personal flight departed Carbon County Airport about 1539, with a planned destination of Spanish Fork, Utah. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. According to witnesses, the accident pilot and passengers had completed a fishing trip in the local area with another group who were in a second helicopter. Both helicopters landed at PUC. The accident pilot refueled and offloaded an 11-year-old child. He then picked up an adult male and his baggage. Witnesses reported that during the refueling stop the accident pilot had a discussion with the second helicopter’s pilot that it would be harder to takeoff from the ramp area rather than the grass area they had just departed from. After the helicopter was refueled, a witness observed the helicopter take off toward the south and then turn towards the northwest. The helicopter was last seen descending slightly as it left the airport boundary. No identified witnesses observed the impact sequence. However, witnesses near the accident site reported seeing a fireball shortly after the helicopter’s departure from PUC. Witnesses at the airport reported that at the time of the accident, winds were strong, and out of
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate preflight performance planning for the takeoff and the loading that exceeded the lift performance capability of the helicopter.
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Browse: Utah · 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.
