On September 9, 1989, a Hughes 369D (registration N1088N) operated by Temsco Helicopters Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Petersburg, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT FAILED TO OBTAIN CLEARANCE OVER TREES. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE AIRCRAFT BEING ABOVE ITS MAXIMUM CERTIFICATED GROSS WEIGHT LIMITATION AND THE TREES. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A helicopter with passengers and equipment made three lift-off attempts. On the third, it reached about 20 feet but struck trees 50 feet away and 30 feet tall. Post-accident weighing revealed it was 200 pounds over maximum gross weight. No mechanical failures were reported.
Accident Sequence
After picking up passengers with equipment, the pilot made three lift-off attempts. The first two attempts were unsuccessful, with the helicopter failing to leave the ground. On the third attempt, the helicopter attained an altitude of approximately 20 feet. However, it did not clear a line of trees located 50 feet from the lift-off point. The trees were 30 feet in height, taller than the helicopter's achieved altitude. The helicopter struck the trees.
Investigation Findings
Following the accident, the passengers and equipment were weighed. The total weight revealed that the helicopter was operating 200 pounds over its maximum gross weight limitation. This overweight condition was present at the time of the accident. No mechanical failures or malfunctions were reported in the aircraft's systems.