Hughes 369D accident near South Malekula, Vanuatu, Vu, August 28, 2011
On August 28, 2011 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered YJHEL, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near South Malekula, Vanuatu. It was an external-load flight under non-U.S. private rules. 1 person was killed and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 28, 2011 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- South Malekula, Vanuatu, Vanuatu · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- YJHEL · no longer on the register · serial 80-0778D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- External-load flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 28, 2011, at 1500 universal coordinated time, a Hughes 369D, Vanuatu registration YJ-HEL, collided with the ground after the attached long-line became entangled in the rotor system near Malekula, Vanuatu. The helicopter was operated by Vanuatu Helicopters under the pertinent civil regulations of Vanuatu. The pilot was fatally injured, and the two passengers received minor injuries. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Vanuatu. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Government of Vanuatu. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Civil Aviation Authority Vanuatu (CAAV) PMB 9068 Port Vila Vanuatu SW Pacific Tel: 678-23301 Fax: 678-23783
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
- External load event (Rotorcraft) during maneuvering defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.