Hughes 369D N58424 accident near Villa Grove, Colorado

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain main rotor clearance from a power line tower during low-level maneuvering.

NTSB analysis

The commercial pilot was conducting external load operations in the helicopter to assist power line construction. While maneuvering the helicopter away from a tower at low altitude, the pilot flew the helicopter to the right while planning on backing up at the same time. The helicopter's speed to the right was faster than he had planned. Subsequently, the helicopter's main rotor hit a tower before it came into the pilot's view, and the helicopter then impacted terrain.

The pilot reported that the helicopter did not have any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Given the pilot's statement, it is likely that he was not adequately monitoring the environment during low-level maneuvering among power line towers and failed to see a tower before the main rotors hit it.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN17LA314 for the full record.