Hughes 369D accident near Lee, MA
On March 10, 2009, a Hughes 369D (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Lee, MA. 3 people were seriously injured. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- March 10, 2009
- Place
- Lee, MA
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 0 fatal, 3 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 42.285°N, 73.239°W
- NTSB ID
- 20090311X84712
Official records · ERA09LA194
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On March 10, 2009, at 1507 eastern daylight time, a Hughes 369D, N369RT, operated by Air2 LLC, was substantially damaged when it became entangled in a transmission wire in Lee, Massachusetts. The certificated airline transport pilot and two onboard linemen were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight which began near an electrical substation close to the transmission lines. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 133. According to an employee of the power company that had contracted the helicopter, the crew was involved with the installation of an overhead optical ground wire (OPGW). The OPGW was being installed on "H-frame" wood structures, about 70 feet above the ground. The employee began to take photographs of the aerial work, and noticed that as the helicopter began to move away from a newly installed OPGW, it appeared that the wire was hooked onto the left horizontal stabilizer. A photograph that he took at the same time also revealed that that the OPGW wire was hooked, in the vicinity of, and inboard the left vertical fin located on the outboard edge of the stabilizer. According to a police officer providing security at the site, he observed the helicopter take off and land numerous times from an electric substation about 500 feet west of his location. While in flight, the helicopter would fly to, and assist as necessary with the installation of the OPGW line. About 1220, the police officer observed two linemen climb the utility pole nearest the
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the overhead wire.
More accidents in MA
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Browse: Massachusetts · 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.
