NTSB Report Hughes 269B Helicopter Crash Arkansas

NTSB Report # DEN08FA122
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, July 15, 2008 in Salesville, AR
Aircraft: Hughes 269B, registration: N469E
Injuries: 2 Fatal. 

On July 15, 2008, about 0927 Central Daylight Time (CDT), a Hughes 269B helicopter, N469E collided with a power line while conducting a power line patrol. The commercial pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The helicopter was destroyed. The flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated near Willow Springs, Missouri at an undetermined time.

Examination of the accident site revealed a single broken strand of high power tension wire above the helicopter wreckage. The broken wire was one of three high power wires and two grounding wires which ran north-south and crossed perpendicular and above the power line being surveyed.

Examination of the helicopter wreckage revealed evidence of an in-flight collision with a high power wire. Portions of the helicopter were found in a debris field approximately 250 feet long by 50 feet wide on a 280 degree magnetic heading, beginning approximately 60 feet east of the broken power line wire. The main portion of the helicopter (cockpit and fuselage) was located approximately 180 feet west of the broken wire and was consumed by fire. The rotor hub, mast, and the tail-boom section were separated from the wreckage and lying near the fuselage, but undamaged from the post-crash fire. One main rotor blade was bent at mid-span and showed “chatter mark” impact signatures consistent with a wire strike. The blade end was separated from the blade and the internal surfaces of the blade showed charring. NOTE: This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.