Hughes 369HS accident near Pacific Ocean, PO, April 5, 2009
On April 5, 2009 at about 12:00 pm local time, a Hughes 369HS (helicopter), registered N2058X, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Pacific Ocean, PO. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from an object during takeoff from the deck of a fishing vessel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 2009 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pacific Ocean, PO · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369HS · all 369HSs on the register
- Registration
- N2058X · no longer on the register · serial 410315S
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A representative of the operator reported that during takeoff from the deck of a fishing vessel, the tail rotor contacted an object on the deck. In his statement, the pilot said that during takeoff for a local fish spotting flight, the helicopter experienced a “violent movement to the right.” Despite the pilot’s input of left pedal, he was unable to regain control of the helicopter. The helicopter landed hard on the deck, resulting in the collapse of the left landing skid. Subsequently the helicopter rolled over and came to rest on its side while remaining on the deck. Examination of the helicopter by the pilot revealed structural damage to the tail boom, tail rotor, and main rotor assembly. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter or its flight control systems.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › (general) › Awareness of condition
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 18,059 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 17,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,098 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 12, 2008; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Husa Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: Pacific Ocean
- Destination: Pacific Ocean
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.