Hughes Helicopters Inc 369E accident near Miami, FL
On December 27, 2023, a Hughes Helicopters Inc 369E (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Miami, FL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- December 27, 2023
- Place
- Miami, FL
- Aircraft
- Hughes Helicopters Inc 369E · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 25.651°N, 80.498°W
- NTSB ID
- 20231227193575
Official records · ERA24FA075
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On December 27, 2023, at 1259 eastern standard time, a Hughes 369E helicopter, N757TB, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Miami, Florida. The pilot was fatally injured, and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the passenger, who was the pilot’s daughter, the purpose of the flight was to drop off her brother at Page Field Airport (FMY), Fort Myers, Florida. They departed Miami Executive Airport (TMB), Miami, Florida, about 1030. They arrived at FMY with no issues and were on the ground about 30 minutes before departing to return to TMB. She further stated that the flight home was normal, and she did not notice anything; however, when the helicopter was about 5 miles west of TMB, it yawed to the right and the began spinning out of control. The helicopter impacted the water and her door opened. She exited the helicopter and swam to shore. The helicopter was located at the bottom of a canal, at a water depth of about 20 ft. Damage to the bottom of the helicopter was consistent with its impacting the water in a near-vertical descent. The tail boom was fractured forward of the vertical stabilizer and was located about 450 ft from the main wreckage. Flight control continuity was observed to all primary flight controls through the fractured tail boom. The engine remained securely attached to the respective mount struts on the engine gearbox. The aft strut on the left side mount had fractured at the rod end connection with the strut tube. Rot
Probable cause
Main rotor contact with the tail boom for unknown reasons, resulting in the separation of the tail boom.
More accidents in FL
- Grumman G-73T, Dec 19, 2005
- Beech B90, Jan 5, 1994
- Beech B-90, Sep 3, 1999
- Cessna 182B, Feb 7, 1982
- Pilatus Aircraft Ltd PC-12/47, Jun 7, 2012
Browse: Florida · 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.
