20010223001669A

(-23) A/c was being operated by air 2, LLC under FAR 133 while conducting mmaintenance and inspection of high voltage power lines. The lineman had just transferred from the external platform on the helicopter to a wooden pole. As the helicopter moved away from the pole laterally, the pilot stated he felt a tug in the helicopter. He stated he was in the process of stopping the helicopter and looked back toward the pole/lineman. He said he observed the lineman falling from the pole. Witnesses stated that the lineman appeared to be attached to the helicopter by something, his fall stopping momentarily then continuing until impact with the ground. One of the platform brace 5/16" rod end bolts was found to be broken off at the platform attachment point. Reportedly this had been used as a point to attach the safety belt teether strap. The safety belt was found in good condition. (.19) on February 23, 2001, about 1300 central standard time, a Boeing 369D, N58377, registered to helicopteros atuneros, inc. operated by air #2, LLC, as a title 14 CFR part 133, power line tower inspection flight, suffered a lineman fall to death near indialola, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The commercially rated helicopter pilot was not injured and the rotorcraft was not damaged. The flight departed the Indianola airport about 1 hour before the accident. According to an FAA inspector, it was the company's procedure to have the externally tethered lineman tranfer from the rotorcraft platform to the top of the tower, transfer his safety harness securing point from the rotorcraft to the tower, and then stow the static discharge line into a canvas pouch on the rotorcraft platform. When the pilot sees the static line in the canvas pouch, that is his cue to back away. Shomehow the sequence got interrupted, the helicopter backed away while the lineman was still tethered to the aircraft, pulling him off the tower, and the tether attachment at the aircraft failed. (.4) on February 23, 2001, about 1300 central standard time, a Boeing 369D, N58377, registered to helicopteros atuneros, inc., operated by air #2, LLC, as a title 14 CFR part 133, power line tower inspection flight, suffered a lineman fall to his death near inverness, Mississippi. Visual meteorologi cal conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The commercially rated helicopter pilot was not injured, and the rotorcraft was not damaged. The flight departed the Indianola airport about 0800, and was staging out of a landing zone named lz 397. The most recent departure of the helicopter was from lz 397 at 1130. According to an FAA inspector, it was the company's procedure to in-flight transfer the safety tethered lineman from the helicopter's external platform to the powerline pole or structure using the same sequential procedure every time. The procedure was: (1) the lineman transfers the static discharge ground cable and clamp from a canvas pouch mounted on the helicopter platform to the pole or structure, (2) he unplugs his intercom, (3) he unfastens his lapbelt connected to the platform, (4) he transfers to the pole using his pole climbing spikes to hold his weight, (5) he transfers his safety harness fitting from the helicopter to the pole, (6) he stows the static discharge cable back into the pouch. When the pilot sees the static cable returned to the canvas pouch, that is his cue to back the helicopter away. Somehow the sequence got interrupted, the helicopter backed away while the lineman was still tethered to the aircraft, pulling him off the structure, and the tether attachment at the aircraft failed. Closer inspection by the FAA inspector revealed that the safety harness attachment designed for securing the tether to the helicopter was not as convenient as a platform mounting strut, and the lineman was using the strut instead. The strut did not withstand the swinging weight of the dislodged lineman, and parted, causing the fall.