Hughes 369 accident near Childress, TX
On November 27, 2012, a Hughes 369 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Childress, TX. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- November 27, 2012
- Place
- Childress, TX
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 34.420°N, 100.241°W
- NTSB ID
- 20121128X12341
Official records · CEN13FA075
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn November 27, 2012, about 1558 central standard time, a MD Helicopters, Inc. MD 500D (Hughes 369D), N28MP, experienced a loss of engine power during long-line power line construction. The helicopter subsequently impacted terrain during a forced landing near the transmission tower where the work was being performed. The helicopter received substantial damage. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries, and the long-line worker was fatally injured. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Brim Equipment Leasing Inc. (D.B.A. Brim Aviation) under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 133 as an external-load operation flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that originated near the accident site, which was about two miles northeast of Childress, Texas. The long-line operation consisted of a 50 foot long-line with a web seat attached to and suspended underneath the helicopter. The long-line worker was performing work on the power line while attached to the helicopter hovering overhead. The pilot said that they had planned to hang travelers on a section of east/west power line towers on the day of the accident. He said that on the day of the accident, a 15-gallon fuel load was "working best." His rule for refueling was that he obtained fuel when the fuel gauge indication was close to 100 pounds, which he said would almost allow a ½-hour of flight time. A company mechanic said that the first operation of the day was to unclip the lines. A full load of fuel was loaded onto the helicopter with only the main tan
Probable cause
The improper maintenance of the helicopter fuel system that resulted in erroneous fuel gauge indications and the pilot’s inadequate fuel management, both of which resulted in fuel exhaustion during a long-line hover. Also causal was the lack of company procedures to ensure adequate maintenance and fuel planning.
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Browse: Texas · 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.
