Hughes 369 accident near Elberon, Virginia, August 5, 2023
On August 5, 2023 at about 4:33 pm local time, a 1981 Hughes 369 (helicopter), registered N353AH, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Elberon, Virginia. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) 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 clearance from a power line structure arm, which resulted in main rotor blade contact.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 2023 · about 4:33 pm local time
- Place
- Elberon, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369 D, built 1981 · all 369s on the register
- Registration
- N353AH · registry record · serial 811079D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The purpose of the rotorcraft external load flight was to spray water from the helicopter and wash some outside insulators that were suspended from power line structure arms. During the wash, the crew heard a bang, and the helicopter descended into trees. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage after the accident and observed substantial damage to the fuselage and rotor blades. The inspector also observed damage to the power line structure arm that was consistent with main rotor blade contact. The inspector did not find evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter, nor did the operator report any. Based on this information, it is likely that the helicopter’s main rotor struck the power line structure while the pilot was maneuvering in close proximity to it.
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 defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Main rotor system › Main rotor blade system › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,375 hours in all; 3,924 in this make and model; 146 in the last 90 days; 74 in the last 30 days; 7,130 as pilot in command; 681 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 19, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
Other crew
- Seat: none
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 20,507 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 18, 2023; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20B (turboshaft); 18,248 hours total
- Operator: Haverfield International INC
The flight
- Departed from: AKQ Wakefield VA at 4:09 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 12:54 pm from AKQ, 10 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KAKQ 051654Z AUTO 10SM FEW025 29/22 A2998
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on October 5, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for the Record | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.