Accident Hughes 369D N611WA,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 292096
 
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Date:Friday 7 July 2006
Time:08:10 LT
Type:Silhouette image of generic H500 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Hughes 369D
Owner/operator:Windward Aviation, Inc.
Registration: N611WA
MSN: 59-0517D
Year of manufacture:1979
Engine model:Allison 250-C20B
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Category:Accident
Location:Kihei, Maui, HI -   United States of America
Phase: Unknown
Nature:Unknown
Departure airport:Kahului, HI (OGGA)
Destination airport:(KOGG)
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
The helicopter's main rotor blades struck a tree while in a hover. The purpose of the flight was to conduct animal control. Once the animal had been identified and neutralized, the pilot was directed to remove the animal. He landed the helicopter near the animal, which was in a confined area with rolling terrain, thick low trees, high grass, and lava rock outcroppings. About 15 feet above the ground, the main rotor blades contacted a tree off to the right rear side of the helicopter. The pilot repositioned the helicopter about 100 feet to another landing site and landed normally. He reported the main rotor "blades strike" to the company and waited for the Director of Maintenance (DOM) to arrive and assess the damage to the main rotor blades. The DOM determined that the helicopter could be flown back to home base. After the helicopter returned to base, maintenance personnel removed and inspected the main rotor blades. All five of the main rotor blades sustained substantial structural damage. Maintenance personnel referenced the maintenance manual and determined that the dents/depressions in the main rotor blades were beyond serviceable limits and could not be repaired.

Probable Cause: the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate clearance from obstructions, which led to a main rotor blade strike.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: LAX06CA227
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 3 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB LAX06CA227

History of this aircraft

Other occurrences involving this aircraft
16 May 2005 N611WA Windward Aviation 0 Kihei, Maui, HI sub

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
08-Oct-2022 14:27 ASN Update Bot Added
15-Jun-2023 05:06 Ron Averes Updated

Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description

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