YUMA, AZ, USA
N5062Q
Hughes 369
The pilot was on a night visual surveillance operation in an area that was familiar to him. During a turn to the right at low altitude, the helicopter collided with transmission power lines. No visual or mechanical problems were reported to have occurred before the accident.
On April 30, 1996, at 2240 hours mountain standard time, a Hughes 369 helicopter, N5062Q, collided with some power lines during a night visual operation near Yuma, Arizona. The helicopter received substantial damage and the pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and a company VFR flight plan was activated. The aircraft is owned and operated by the U.S. Border Patrol as a public-use aircraft. According to the operator, the pilot is experienced in the area and did not report any visual or mechanical problems with the aircraft prior to colliding with the wires. The pilot stated in his accident report that he was in the beginning of a planned turn to the right at an indicated airspeed between 30 to 40 knots when he heard a loud bang with a momentary ball of fire in the cockpit. He landed the aircraft, and after inspection, found four severed strands of aluminum power transmission lines lying on the ground next to the aircraft.
failure of the pilot to maintain altitude and/or clearance from obstacles, while maneuvering a low altitude at night. Factors relating to the accident were: darkness and the lack of visual cues.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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