Hughes 369D accident near Ackerly, Texas, August 5, 2013
On August 5, 2013 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N8688F, was involved in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Ackerly, Texas. It was an external-load flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 2 people were killed; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to identify and maintain adequate clearance from a shield wire that was suspended between power transmission line towers.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 2013 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Ackerly, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N8688F · no longer on the register · serial 1070208D
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- External-load flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter was being used to hoist linemen onto power transmission towers. The helicopter was equipped with a 100-foot external cargo long-line. Shortly after departure, as the helicopter was climbing toward the transmission tower, the long-line collided with a shield wire suspended between transmission towers. The operator reported that the long-line severed about 5 feet above the linemen. The two linemen, who were being hoisted on the long-line, were fatally injured after falling about 200 feet to the ground after the collision. The pilot returned to the landing zone and made an uneventful landing. The operator did not report any malfunction or failures with the helicopter that would have prevented normal operation. The pilot stated that the shield wire installed on the tower had not been identified or discussed during the preflight briefing. He reported that the clear sky condition and the morning light made the shield wire impossible to see from the ground. Additionally, he stated that it was uncommon for shield wire to be installed on the upper tower structures before the lower line work had been completed.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- External load event (Rotorcraft) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Awareness of condition
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 190 in the last 90 days; 82 in the last 30 days; 4,450 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 28, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,273 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, July 19, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 3,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce M250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Haverfield Aviation, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: None Ackerly TX at 2:15 pm
- Destination: None Ackerly TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 2:15 pm from KBPG, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.