19971015031299A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Bell 206B · Sutton, AK · October 15, 1997

Date: October 15, 1997 · 10:30 local
Place: Sutton, AK
Airport: Jonesville Mine Airport
Phase of flight: Power On Descent (Rotorcraft)
Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
Operator: ELOL
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N86TA
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC98LA003
Reported as: Bell 206B
Reported engine: Allison 250C20
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 8,605 total3,855 in this make and model255 in the last 90 days

N86TARegistration cancelled Aug 15, 2019 · Bell 206BS/N 1647 · Built 1975 Airframe modelBell 206B Engine modelAllison 250 SER 400HPTurbo-shaft

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

External load line became entangled in tail rotor during landing hover landed hard. Failed drop long line. (.4)the helicopter was being landed after completion of an external load lift. The long line suspended from the helicopter became entangled in a tree. The tail rotor subsequently became entangled in the long line. The pilot stated that the helicopter landed hard, and the tail boom, tail rotor, and tail gear box sustained damage.

As the FAA filed it

EXTERNAL LOAD LINE BECAME ENTANGLED IN TAIL ROTOR DURING LANDING HOVER LANDED HARD. FAILED DROP LONG LINE. (.4)THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING LANDED AFTER COMPLETION OF AN EXTERNAL LOAD LIFT. THE LONG LINE SUSPENDED FROM THE HELICOPTER BECAME ENTANGLED IN A TREE. THE TAIL ROTOR SUBSEQUENTLY BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE LONG LINE. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD, AND THE TAIL BOOM, TAIL ROTOR, AND TAIL GEAR BOX SUSTAINED DAMAGE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC98LA003Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSutton, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance between the tail rotor and the external long line cable, and the subsequent entanglement of the tail rotor with the long line.Oct 15, 1997 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N86TA · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 20150310003009AHover/Holding · Palmer, AKPilot was in a hover over the knik glacier. Pilot was flying by himself from left seat. Pilot lost track of rotor RPM while concentrating on correcting N2, and the helicopter settled hard on to the glacier. Pilot brought the helicopter back in to hover,…Mar 10, 2015 · Substantial damage Incident 19810727061219IFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Copper Center, AKLanded off airport due to short shaft in drive coupling failed.Jul 27, 1981 · Minor damage