Hughes 369D accident near Lee, Massachusetts, March 10, 2009
On March 10, 2009 at about 7:07 pm local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N369RT, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Lee, Massachusetts. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the overhead wire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 10, 2009 · about 7:07 pm local time
- Place
- Lee, Massachusetts · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N369RT · no longer on the register · serial 1000819D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While hovering the helicopter during the installation of a transmission wire about 70 feet above the ground, the pilot inadvertently allowed the left horizontal stabilizer to move laterally until it was beneath the wire. When the pilot attempted to climb the helicopter away from the wire, the wire hooked the stabilizer. The helicopter subsequently pitched forward and the main rotor blades and rotor mast also became entangled with the wire. The main rotor blades and tail boom then broke away from the helicopter, which spun once or twice before hitting the ground. There were no mechanical anomalies noted with the helicopter and no appreciable wind.
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 (hover) defining event
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,708 hours in all; 286 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 4,542 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 13, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,345 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 10, 2009; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250 SER 250HP (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air2 LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Lee MA
- Destination: Lee MA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 pm from PSF, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 3 |
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.