Hughes 369 accident near Peach Orchard, Missouri, September 9, 2016
On September 9, 2016 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 1979 Hughes 369 (helicopter), registered N500TN, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Peach Orchard, Missouri. It was an external-load flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The helicopter pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient separation between the main rotor blade and a power line during line guard installation, which resulted in an electrical arc to the main rotor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 2016 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Peach Orchard, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369 D, built 1979 · all 369s on the register
- Registration
- N500TN · registry record · serial 590521D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- External-load flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter pilot reported that he was flying in support of a utility company crew that was installing line guards for a conductor damper on an energized 161 kilovolts (Kv) electrical transmission line. The transmission line had three phases (power lines) that were separated vertically and staggered horizontally from one another and ran parallel to the ground. The lower phase power line was about 9.5 ft (horizontally) further out from the middle phase power line. While the helicopter was approaching the lines, its main rotor blade clearance from the middle phase line was about 2.5 ft, which resulted in an electrical arc to the main rotor. The pilot landed the helicopter away from the transmission line without further incident. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the main rotor hub and two main rotor blades. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. According to Occupational Safety & Health Administration 1910.269(I)(10), the minimum approach distance (MAD) is to "ensure that workers do not approach or take any conductive object closer to the energized parts as set forth in the table below (excerpt)." For a voltage of 161 Kv, the MAD for this operation was equal to or greater than 4.00625 ft.
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
- Miscellaneous/other 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 › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of policy/procedure › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,750 hours in all; 3,585 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 37 in the last 30 days; 5,475 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 10, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17,622.7 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 5, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce 250-C20R (turboshaft); 8,286 hours total
- Operator: Air2 LLC.
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 8 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from KTKX, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on January 25, 2017. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Damage Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Osha - Powerline - Minimum Approach Distance | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Accident Photos (Courtesy of Operator) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N500TN the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.