NTSB CAROL · Event
Event BFO91LA036
Registry · N5FC
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
HUGHES 369HS
Year of manufacture
1976 · 15 years old at event
TCDS
H3WE · MD HELICOPTERS INC (MDHI)
Engine
ALLISON 250 SER 400HP (400 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19760414
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A635BE
Registrant of record
SARA HELICOPTERS INC
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE OBSTRUCTION (FENCE POST).
Factual narrative
THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS LANDING THE AIRCRAFT IN A CLEARING ON TELEPHONE COMPANY RIGHT OF WAY PROPERTY IN ORDER TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE COMPANY'S GROUND PERSONNEL. AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 100 FEET, AFTER TURNING HIS CRAFT INTO THE WIND AND MANEUVERING TO AVOID SOME LOOSE GROUND WIRES, HE DESCENDED FOR A LANDING. AT ABOUT 10 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, HE HEARD A LOUD BANG, THE AIRCRAFT SHUDDERED VIOLENTLY, BUT HE DID NOT LOSE PEDAL CONTROL. HE EXECUTED A HOVER AUTO ROTATION, LANDED THE AIRCRAFT AND SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. AFTER EXITING THE AIRCRAFT, THE PILOT DISCOVERED THE TAIL ROTOR AND FINS HAD STRUCK A 2 INCH METAL FENCE POST THAT WAS 7 FEET TALL. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1991_BFO91LA036.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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