Hughes 369 accident near Granger, TX
On August 21, 2018, a Hughes 369 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Granger, TX. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 21, 2018
- Place
- Granger, TX
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 30.690°N, 97.401°W
- NTSB ID
- 20180821X62945
Official records · WPR18FA232
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn August 21, 2018, about 1218 central daylight time, a Hughes Helicopters 369FF, N530FU, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Granger, Texas. The flight instructor and the pilot receiving instruction sustained fatal injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. Brunner Aerospace had been contracted by the US Army Security Assistance Training Management Organization (SATMO), to provide "MD530F Emergency Refresher Training (Enhanced)" for special operations pilots who flew the MD-530F with the Jordanian Air Force. The accident flight was one such training flight. The flight originated from Georgetown Municipal Airport (GTU), Georgetown, Texas, about 1208 and was destined for Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional Airport (TPL), Temple, Texas. About 1207, the flight instructor made a radio call to the GTU tower and reported his intention to depart to the northeast. The tower controller acknowledged the flight instructor's transmission and cleared the helicopter for departure. The final stage of the accident was not observed by any witnesses; however radar data from a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air route surveillance radar about 30 miles northeast of GTU revealed a target departing the GTU airport environment about 1209 and traveling east while climbing to a mode C transponder-reported altitude of 1,100 ft (about 500 ft above ground level [agl]). About that time, the instructor requested a frequency change with the tower, and 4 minutes after departure (9 miles east of
Probable cause
The failure of both pilots to see and avoid a power line while maneuvering at low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's decision to not follow the training syllabus and allow the low-level high-speed flight.
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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.
