Hughes 369D accident near Richland, Washington, April 11, 2002
On April 11, 2002 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N8353F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Richland, Washington. It was a public-use flight under public-use (government) rules. No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the netting material securing a net weight while maneuvering. The net weight was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 2002 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Richland, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N8353F · registry record · serial 1260062D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an aerial animal capture flight, the helicopter was positioned about 15 feet above ground level over the elk for capture. The pilot positioned the helicopter to get the gunner into firing position and told the gunner to get ready. When ready, the gunner fired the net. Immediately after the shot, a loud bang was heard and the helicopter began to vibrate. The pilot landed the helicopter without further incident. After the main rotor blades stopped turning, it was noted that one of the blades had a hole on the leading edge that exposed the spar. Additional holes were noted on the back of the blade about two inches from the trailing edge. The net that was discharged was examined. It was noted that one of the net weights from one of the four corners was missing and had separated from the attaching material. The weight was later found about 300 feet from the net and displayed impact damage and was slightly bent.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 13,000 hours in all; 2,100 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 12,000 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 5, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,480 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 6, 2002; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RLD Richland WA at 12:45 pm
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from PSC, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N8353F 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.