PETERSBURG, AK, USA
N1088N
HUGHES 369D
AFTER PICKING UP PASSENGERS WITH EQUIPMENT, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TWICE TO LIFT OFF, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. ON THE THIRD ATTEMPT, THE HELICOPTER ATTAINED AN ALTITUDE OF APRX 20 FT; HOWEVER, IT DID NOT CLEAR A LINE OF TREES LOCATED 50 FT FROM THE LIFT-OFF POINT AND 30 FEET IN HEIGHT. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE PASSENGERS AND EQUIPMENT WERE WEIGHED. THE HELICOPTER WAS FOUND TO HAVE BEEN OPERATING 200 POUNDS OVER ITS MAX GROSS WEIGHT LIMITATION. THERE WERE NO REPORTED MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS.
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.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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