2008 Hughes 269B Helicopter Accident Near Salesville, Arkansas (N469E)

Accident Overview and Flight Details On July 15, 2008, at 0926 CDT, a Hughes 269B helicopter, registration N469E, collided with a high-voltage transmission line and impacted terrain near Salesville, Arkansas. The commercial pilot and passenger were fatally injured, and the helicopter was destroyed. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan in visual meteorological conditions, originating from a non-airport location near Willow Springs, Missouri. The pilot departed his home near West Plains, Missouri, at 0714, arrived at Willow Springs at 0741, and departed at 0748 with a Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative employee. They followed SHO-ME high-voltage transmission lines to inspect for vegetation encroachment. At the time of the accident, the helicopter was following SHO-ME line 609 (SM-609), which terminated at the Norfork Dam substation. Approximately 160 feet east of where SM-609 turned north, an Entergy 161 kilovolt (KV) line (Ent-161) crossed perpendicular and above SM-609. At the crossing point, SM-609 was 51 feet above the ground, while Ent-161 was estimated at 154 feet. The middle strand of Ent-161 was found broken, and the main wreckage was located 184 feet from the broken wire on a 280-degree bearing.