Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E accident near Northport, AL
On August 19, 2014, a Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Northport, AL. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- August 19, 2014
- Place
- Northport, AL
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 33.451°N, 87.388°W
- NTSB ID
- 20140819X50947
Official records · ERA14FA396
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn August 19, 2014, about 1100 central daylight time, a McDonnell Douglas 369E, N444RS, owned and operated by Rotorworks LLC, was substantially damaged when it impacted a utility wire and terrain while maneuvering near Northport, Alabama. The commercial pilot and the passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was filed for the local flight, which originated from Tuscaloosa Regional Airport (TCL), Tuscaloosa, Alabama, about 1034. The aerial observation flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the operator, on the morning of the accident flight, the pilot was requested to relocate the helicopter from Mobile, Alabama, to Tuscaloosa. Once in Tuscaloosa, the pilot fueled the helicopter and picked up the passenger/observer before departing on the accident flight; the purpose of which was to inspect a span of high-tension power lines for damage from a storm that had passed through the area the previous night. About 1025, the pilot submitted a company flight plan via email, and according to satellite tracking data, departed TCL about 1034. The helicopter's location, altitude, groundspeed, and direction of travel were subsequently reported to the operator every 5 minutes, as it initially flew east, intercepted the powerline span to be inspected, and then proceeded north along the span. The helicopter's final position, as reported by the satellite tracking data, was recorded at 1100, at a GPS altitude of 457 feet, a groundspeed of 32 knots, and a track
Probable cause
An inadvertent collision with a utility wire for reasons that could not be determined from recorded data and examination of the helicopter and accident site.
More accidents in AL
- Beech C99, Jul 10, 1991
- Cessna 421A, Jun 22, 1983
- Cessna 421C, Jul 9, 2011
- Piper PA 31, Aug 14, 2016
- Beech 95-B55B, Dec 5, 1992
Browse: Alabama · Mcdonnell Douglas 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.
