# Accident 19990302001929A: Skrsky S64E, Shelton, WA, March 2, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 2, 1999, 11:12 local time
- Place: Shelton, WA
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Location: 47.2307° N, 123.2010° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2307&lon=-123.2010&mi=10
- Aircraft: N194AC, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N194AC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Sikorsky S-64E (registry code 8142604, https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-64e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney JFTD12A series (registry code 52047, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jftd12a-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SKRSKY S64E
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA99LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA038) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990302001929A

## Narrative

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

SIKORSKY S64E SKYCRANE HELICOPTER WAS INVOLVED IN A LOGGING OPERATION, THE ACFT CAME IN TO THE LANDING SITE AND DROPPED A LOAD OF LOGS, ONE LOG HUNG UP ON A CABLE AND SWUNG AROUND STRIKING AND FATALLY INJURING A GROUND EMPLOYEE, OTHER CIRCUNSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN. (-23)THE HELICOPTER WAS INVOLVED IN AN AERIAL LOGGING OPERATION NEAR HOODSPORT, WA. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DEPOSITING A LOAD OF LOGS AT THE LANDING SITE. THE OPERATION INVOLVED A LONG-LINE OF 200 FEET IN LENGTH AND TWO TAG LINES. THE LONGEST TAG LINE CONTAINED 4 LOGS AND WAS AN ADDITIONAL 200 FEET LONG. THE TAG LINE CONTAINING A SINGLE LOG RELEASED NORMALLY FROM THE WHITE PORTION OF THE HOOK. THE TAG LINE CONTAINING 4 LOGS DID NOT RELEASE FROM THE RED PORTION OF THE HOOK. AS THE AIRCRAFT HOVERED AWAY FROM THE LANDING, ONE END OF THE LAST LOG RAISED OFF THE GROUND TO APPROX. A 45 DEGREE ANGEL. THE LINE THEN RELEASED FROM THE HOOK. THE LOG, WITH ONE END ON THE GROUND AND A TAG LINE TO THE REMAINING LOGS SECURED IN THE CENTER OF THE LOG, PIVOTED AROUND AND STRUCK A GROUND CREWSMAN WHO ENTERED THE OPERATIONAL AREA PREMATURELY WITHOUT VERIFYING THE LOAD HAD RELEASED PROPERLY, RESULTING IN FATAL                                          INJURIES TO THE GROUND CREWMAN.

## 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 SEA99LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA038), Mar 2, 1999: Sikorsky S-64E (N194AC), Shelton, WA, no damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The failure of the victim to follow the procedure that required him to make sure that all choker lines had separated from the helicopter's release mechanism prior to entering the landing (collection…

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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