On September 7, 2000, a Hughes 269C (registration N50638) was involved in an aviation accident near Rancho Murieta, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate visual lookout during cruise, which subsequently led to a wire strike. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A helicopter on a cattle herding flight struck power lines in cruise and was destroyed in the post-impact fire. The pilot was involved in a similar accident in 1993.
Incident
During a cattle herding operation at a ranch, the helicopter collided with power lines while in cruise flight. The collision caused the helicopter to crash, and it was subsequently destroyed in a post-impact fire.
Discovery
The accident was not immediately known to authorities. The local fire department was dispatched to a reported fire and downed power lines in the area. Upon arrival, they found the helicopter in the middle of the fire. The fire department had not been aware that an aircraft accident had occurred prior to reaching the scene.
Pilot History
The pilot of the helicopter had been involved in a similar accident in 1993. In that incident, the pilot was also herding cattle when the helicopter struck power lines and crashed.