# Accident 19970606016369A: Bell 204B, Kaneohe, HI, June 6, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 6, 1997, 10:45 local time
- Place: Kaneohe, HI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: DBZL
- Location: 21.4106° N, 157.7899° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.4106&lon=-157.7899&mi=10
- Aircraft: N64F, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N64F-2018-01-25) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 204-B (registry code 1181404, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-204-b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming T-53 series (registry code 41549, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-t-53-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 204B
- Reported engine: LYC T5313B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 5,275 total, 200 in this make and model, 80 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX97LA204](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA204) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970606016369A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS PREPARING TO SLING A METAL UTILITY POLE. AS THE PILOT PICKED UP THE LOAD, ONE OF THE SLING LINES SNAGGED. ALTHOUGH GROUND PERSONNEL SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, THE LINE SLIPPED OFF BEFORE THEY WERE ABLE TO RADIO THE PILOT. THE PILOT HAD NOT VEIFIED THE SECURITY OF THE LOAD. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, A SHOCK WAS TRANSMITTED THROUGH THE AIRFRAME TO THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM. THE PILOT FELT THE RESONANCE AND PUT THE LOAD BACK ON THE GROUND. THE RESONANCE INCREASED, HOWEVER, AND THE PILOT JETTISONED THE SLING. THE CONTROL RESPONSE WAS BECOMING MUSHY AND HE FELT HE WAS LOSING AIRCRAFT CONTROL, SO HE INITIATED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OVER AN UPSLOPE, AND AS THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN, THE STINGER AND TAILROTOR STRUCK THE GROUND.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX97LA204](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA204), Jun 6, 1997: Bell 204-B (N64F), Kaneohe, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure of the pilot to verify that the load was properly rigged before attempting to pick it up. The uneven (sloping) terrain was a related factor.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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