On May 5, 1985, a Hughes 369D (registration N8365F) operated by Clifford D. Richey was involved in an aviation accident near Spokane, WA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A helicopter on a flight to a TV station struck a guy wire during takeoff, crashed, and burned in a parking lot. The pilot, on his first trip to the station, had landed near light standards below the wires.
Background
The helicopter was on a flight to a TV station to transport a TV cameraman and his gear. The regular pilot for this trip was unable to fly, so another pilot was retained for the flight. This was his first flight to the station. Helicopter operations at the TV station were conducted from a parking lot. An unmarked area in the northeast corner of the parking lot was intended to be used as a helipad. Operations to the helipad required that the helicopter be maneuvered in the vicinity of TV towers and guy wires. One double strand of guy wires crossed over the parking lot between the center and far corner of the parking lot, away from the helipad, near the TV station building.
Accident Sequence
Witnesses reported that the pilot entered the parking lot from the northeast and landed near two light standards below the double strand of guy wires. He egressed and helped the cameraman without shutting down the engines. During takeoff, the main rotor blades hit a guy wire, and the helicopter crashed and burned in the parking lot, a short distance from the lift-off point.
What happened in the 5 May 1985 Hughes 369D accident near Spokane, WA?
A helicopter on a flight to a TV station struck a guy wire during takeoff, crashed, and burned in a parking lot. The pilot, on his first trip to the station, had landed near light standards below the wires.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 5 May 1985 involved a Hughes 369D, registration N8365F, operated by Clifford D. Richey, at Spokane, WA.
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