N338HW – HUGHES 369 – 2018-02-12 NTSB Accident Report

On February 12, 2018, a Hughes 369 (N338HW) was involved in an incident near Heber City, UT. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from an elk while maneuvering at a low altitude.

The helicopter pilot reported that, he was maneuvering at a low altitude in an attempt to net an elk. When the helicopter was approximately above the elk, his attention was immediately focused forward due to a small rise in terrain. He pitched the nose of the helicopter up, and the helicopter started to shake and spin. Subsequently, the helicopter struck the ground, the right skid broke, and the helicopter came to rest on its right side.

A post-accident examination revealed that the helicopter's tail-rotor had struck the elk when the pilot pitched the helicopter's nose up.

The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail-boom and rotor.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal...

This incident is documented in NTSB report GAA18CA127. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N338HW.