Hughes 369 accident near Majuro, USA
On July 4, 2018, a Hughes 369 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Majuro, USA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 4, 2018
- Place
- Majuro, USA
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 7.110°N, 171.180°E
- NTSB ID
- 20180705X51303
Official records · WPR18FA188
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 5, 2018, about 0914 local time (coordinated universal time [UTC] + 12 hours), an MD Helicopters (Hughes) 369D helicopter, N8648F, impacted the Pacific Ocean near the Republic of Nauru in the Marshall Islands about 20 seconds after liftoff from a Taiwan-registered fishing ship. The commercial pilot and the non pilot-rated observer (who was the designated fish-spotter) received fatal injuries. The helicopter was destroyed by impact forces and salt water immersion. The helicopter was registered to Vertol Systems Company (VSC) of Hillsboro, Oregon, and operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerial observation flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed for the flight, which was originating at the time of the accident. There were no known recorded communications between the helicopter and the ship before or during the accident flight. A forward-facing surveillance video camera on the ship captured the helicopter's liftoff and water impact. The permanent-type float-equipped helicopter was positioned on the ship's landing platform, which was about 40 ft above the waterline. The sky was clear, the sea state was calm, and the water surface was glassy in appearance, with no waves and minimal swells. While on the platform, the helicopter faced about 45° to port (left). The left-side of the helicopter was visible and revealed that the left cockpit door was not installed. The helicopter lifted off and began an immediate descending right turn of about 90° heading change and disappear
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance above the surface of the ocean.
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Browse: United States · 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.
