ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 354065
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| Date: | Friday 24 July 1998 |
| Time: | 09:30 LT |
| Type: |  Bell UH-1H Iroquois |
| Owner/operator: | Northwest Helicopters, Inc. |
| Registration: | N83NW |
| MSN: | 64-13699 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 16203 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming T53-L-13B |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Libby, MT -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot stated that while conducting external load logging operations, he was hooked up to a tree length root wad which had been knocked over and topped. He picked up the tree length and laid it over 180 degrees from its original position in order to break the roots from the ground. With the roots loose, he started a takeoff and the tree left the ground and was in the air for approximately 25-50 yards. The roots then impacted the ground; the Kevlar long-line snapped about midpoint and the broken end rebounded up into the tail rotor. The pilot stated that he immediately realized he had a tail rotor failure. He informed the ground crew and found the only open area, which was approximately 100 yards from the point of failure. On the second 360 degree spin, he reduced power when the nose was pointed at the intended crash site. He stated that he realized he was too low to make it, so he pulled pitch, which put him in a rapid spin. He struck some trees on his second or third spin and then fell. After impact, he evacuated from the helicopter.
Probable Cause: A failure of the external load cable, which became entangled in the tail rotor.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB SEA98LA146
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 25 May 2018 | N111DR | Northwest Helicopters I Inc | 0 | Olympia Regional Airport, WA | |
sub |
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 10-Mar-2024 18:40 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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