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Location:
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Asotin, Washington
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Accident Number:
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WPR19LA249
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Date & Time:
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August 31, 2019, 22:17 Local
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Registration:
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N54528
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Aircraft:
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Hughes 369
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Defining Event:
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Loss of control in flight
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Injuries:
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2 None
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Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis
The pilot of the helicopter reported that he was departing over a river in dark night conditions when, shortly after takeoff, the helicopter yawed severely to the left. He applied full right anti-torque pedal and the helicopter subsequently impacted the water. The helicopter was not examined after the accident, and the reason for the loss of control could not be determined based on the available information.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: A loss of control for undetermined reasons.
Findings
Not determined (general) - Unknown/Not determined
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Factual Information
On August 31, 2019, about 2217 Pacific daylight time, a Hughes 369D helicopter, N54528, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Asotin, Washington. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The pilot reported that he and his passenger departed from a private residence near the Snake River in dark night conditions. The pilot recalled that shortly after lifting off, the helicopter yawed severely to the left. He applied full right anti-torque pedal and the helicopter subsequently impacted the water. He and the passenger egressed the helicopter, which subsequently sank, and were rescued shortly thereafter. The pilot stated that the helicopter had experienced a loss of tail rotor effectiveness, and that the accident was not due to anything he did incorrectly.
The mechanic who was repairing the helicopter after the accident reported that the aft tail rotor aft drive flex coupling had sheared. He stated that none of the four tail rotor blades were damaged during the accident sequence.
No follow-up examination of the helicopter was performed, and the reason for the loss of control could not be determined.
History of Flight
Takeoff Loss of control in flight (Defining event)
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Pilot Information
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Certificate:
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Airline transport; Commercial
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Age:
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42,Male
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Airplane Rating(s):
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Single-engine land; Single-engine sea; Multi-engine land
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Seat Occupied:
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Left
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Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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Glider; Helicopter
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Restraint Used:
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4-point
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Instrument Rating(s):
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Airplane
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Second Pilot Present:
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No
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Instructor Rating(s):
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None
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Toxicology Performed:
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No
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Medical Certification:
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Class 1 Without waivers/limitations
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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September 5, 2017
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Occupational Pilot:
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Yes
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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June 12, 2019
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Flight Time:
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(Estimated) 8000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 3000 hours (Total, this make and model), 4000 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 15 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 10 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
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Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
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Aircraft Make:
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Hughes
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Registration:
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N54528
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Model/Series:
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369 D
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Aircraft Category:
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Helicopter
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Year of Manufacture:
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1978
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Amateur Built:
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Airworthiness Certificate:
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Normal
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Serial Number:
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390464D
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Landing Gear Type:
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High skid
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Seats:
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5
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Date/Type of Last Inspection:
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Unknown
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Certified Max Gross Wt.:
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3000 lbs
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Time Since Last Inspection:
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Engines:
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1 Turbo shaft
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Airframe Total Time:
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Engine Manufacturer:
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Allison
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ELT:
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Installed, not activated
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Engine Model/Series:
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C-20B
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Registered Owner:
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Rated Power:
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420 Horsepower
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Operator:
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On file
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Operating Certificate(s) Held:
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None
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Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
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Conditions at Accident Site:
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Visual (VMC)
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Condition of Light:
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Night/dark
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Observation Facility, Elevation:
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KLWS,1436 ft msl
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Distance from Accident Site:
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8 Nautical Miles
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Observation Time:
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Direction from Accident Site:
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345°
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Lowest Cloud Condition:
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Clear
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Visibility
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Lowest Ceiling:
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None
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Visibility (RVR):
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Wind Speed/Gusts:
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/ Turbulence Type
Forecast/Actual:
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None / None
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Wind Direction:
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Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
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N/A / N/A
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Altimeter Setting:
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Temperature/Dew Point:
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Precipitation and Obscuration:
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No Obscuration; No Precipitation
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Departure Point:
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Asotin, WA
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Type of Flight Plan Filed:
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None
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Destination:
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Asotin, WA
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Type of Clearance:
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None
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Departure Time:
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22:17 Local
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Type of Airspace:
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Class G
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Wreckage and Impact Information
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Crew Injuries:
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1 None
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Passenger Injuries:
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1 None
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Aircraft Fire:
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None
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Ground Injuries:
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Aircraft Explosion:
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None
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Total Injuries:
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2 None
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Latitude, Longitude:
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46.251667,-116.968612(est)
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Administrative Information
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Investigator In Charge (IIC):
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Vanover, Jackie
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Additional Participating Persons:
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Douglas Belcher; Federal Aviation Administration; Spokane, WA
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Original Publish Date:
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April 1, 2022 Investigation Class:
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3
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Note:
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The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.
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Investigation Docket:
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https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100191
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