What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Investigation revealed that the 5/8" steel cable (long line) had failed between the helicopter sling hook and the external sling load (logs) at the time the external load was to be released. The cable portion that was still connected to the helicopter hook recoiled from the separated end and entered the mrb rotation disk area and pieces of the cable were slung back into the trb disk area. The pilots executed a power-off landing. Inspection of the aircraft revealed one mrb with two damaged pockets (two segments of blade area between the mrb spar and mrb trailing edge) and the tail rotor assembly with substantial damage. No other damage noted.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE 5/8" STEEL CABLE (LONG LINE) HAD FAILED BETWEEN THE HELICOPTER SLING HOOK AND THE EXTERNAL SLING LOAD (LOGS) AT THE TIME THE EXTERNAL LOAD WAS TO BE RELEASED. THE CABLE PORTION THAT WAS STILL CONNECTED TO THE HELICOPTER HOOK RECOILED FROM THE SEPARATED END AND ENTERED THE MRB ROTATION DISK AREA AND PIECES OF THE CABLE WERE SLUNG BACK INTO THE TRB DISK AREA. THE PILOTS EXECUTED A POWER-OFF LANDING. INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED ONE MRB WITH TWO DAMAGED POCKETS (TWO SEGMENTS OF BLADE AREA BETWEEN THE MRB SPAR AND MRB TRAILING EDGE) AND THE TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBLY WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. NO OTHER DAMAGE NOTED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.