Mcdonnell Douglas Heli Co 369 accident near Paducah, TX
On October 6, 2013, a Mcdonnell Douglas Heli Co 369 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Paducah, TX. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- October 6, 2013
- Place
- Paducah, TX
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas Heli Co 369 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 33.939°N, 100.072°W
- NTSB ID
- 20131007X44153
Official records · WPR14LA008
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On October 6, 2013, at 1217 central daylight time, a McDonnell Douglas 369FF, N530KF, collided with a power transmission line tower while maneuvering to pick up a rope for the external load operation. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Rogers Aviation under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 133. The helicopter was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from a local area staging site. The pilot was maneuvering the helicopter near a 150 foot tall power transmission line tower in preparation to attach a line to a rope to pull it through a traveller for power line construction. Ground crew, whose boom truck was positioned near the base of the tower, reported that the boom truck basket was positioned at the bottom traveler about 100 feet above ground level. The rope had been threaded through the top traveler. As the helicopter was maneuvering into position to pick up the rope, the wind had picked up and become gusty. As the pilot was maneuvering the helicopter, the main rotor blades struck the tower and the top traveler located about 140 feet above ground level. The helicopter spun around and the tail rotor struck the tower. The tail rotor and tail rotor gearbox separated from the helicopter as it descended rapidly to the ground near the base of the tower. A postcrash fire consumed the wreckage. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The 34 year old pilot held flight certificates for commercial rotorcraft
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power transmission line tower while maneuvering to pick up a rope in gusting wind conditions.
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Browse: Texas
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
