Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E accident near Swan Lake, New York, June 18, 2021
On June 18, 2021 at about 12:45 pm local time, a 1989 Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E, registered N371EE, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Swan Lake, New York. It was an external-load flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 2 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 adequate clearance from the power transmission tower structure during powerline maintenance work, which resulted in the helicopter's main rotor striking the lifeline support bracket for the tower catwalk and the subsequent loss of control and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 2021 · about 12:45 pm local time
- Place
- Swan Lake, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E, built 1989 · all 369Es on the register
- Registration
- N371EE · no longer on the register · serial 0371E
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- External-load flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot positioned the helicopter near one of the power transmission tower structures as the lineman, seated on a platform that was attached externally on the skids, began the maintenance. The pilot and the lineman both reported that they then heard a bang, and the helicopter began to shake violently. The pilot maneuvered the helicopter away from the tower and descended through the tree branches. The helicopter came to rest upright in a heavily wooded area. A microscopic postaccident examination of one main rotor blade tip revealed witness marks consistent with metal impact, and a support bracket for the tower catwalk displayed impact damage. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the helicopter. A postaccident examination of the tower revealed that, unlike the majority of the towers being maintained, it was equipped with a catwalk which had a lifeline support bracket protruding from the top of it for the tower catwalk. Given this information, it is likely that the pilot did not note this hazard and that main rotor blade tip impacted the tower structure and resulted in the subsequent loss of control.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during maneuvering (hover)
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (hover) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Pole › Effect on equipment
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,851 hours in all; 1,567 in this make and model; 140 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 3,677 as pilot in command; 568 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 30, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17,907.7 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 28, 2021; 74.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20-B (turboshaft); 17,745 hours total
- Operator: Haverfield International
The flight
- Departed from: MSV Monticello NY at 11:20 am
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 am from MSV, 3 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMSV 181256Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM CLR 17/09 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP170 T01720094
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.