Accident Hughes 369D ZK-HHT,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 46398
 
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Date:Wednesday 22 December 2004
Time:13:00
Type:Silhouette image of generic H500 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Hughes 369D
Owner/operator:
Registration: ZK-HHT
MSN: 790539D
Year of manufacture:1979
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Category:Accident
Location:Wanganui River, West Coast -   New Zealand
Phase: En route
Nature:External load operation
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Investigating agency: TAIC
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
The helicopter was carrying a party of three kayakers into the upper reaches of the Wanganui River, South Westland. The party's kayaks and paddles were suspended in a cargo net underneath the helicopter. As the helicopter flew up the river, the net swung back and struck the tail rotor, resulting in an immediate loss of tail rotor control. The pilot regained control by promptly entering an autorotation and made a successful, but heavy, forced landing on to the riverbed. An ensuing fire destroyed the helicopter, but all four occupants escaped with minor scratches and bruises only.

The accident was caused by the sling load being too light for the speed of the helicopter.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: TAIC
Report number: 
Status: Investigation completed
Duration:
Download report: Final report

Sources:

http://www.taic.org.nz/ReportsandSafetyRecs/AviationReports/tabid/78/ctl/Detail/mid/482/InvNumber/2004-009/Page/7/language/en-US/Default.aspx?SkinSrc=[G]skins%2ftaicAviation%2fskin_aviation

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
04-Nov-2008 10:35 ASN archive Added
17-Aug-2014 06:24 Aerossurance Updated [Phase, Nature, Source, Narrative]
16-Sep-2019 12:52 BEAVERSPOTTER Updated [Cn]
11-Feb-2022 02:51 Ron Averes Updated [Location]

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