# Accident 20010925027129A: Timber Choppers KAMAN HH-43B/F, Bonnersferry, ID, September 25, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 25, 2001, 15:03 local time
- Place: Bonnersferry, ID
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: PZ7L
- Location: 48.7508° N, 116.5106° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.7508&lon=-116.5106&mi=10
- Aircraft: N55714, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55714-2013-06-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Timber Choppers KAMAN HH-43B/F (registry code 8940101, https://openairdocs.org/model/timber-choppers-kaman-hh-43b-f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA01LA173](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA173) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010925027129A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A PART 133 HELI-LOGGING OPERATION USING A 175' FOOT LONG TO LIFT LOGS. AS STATED BY THE WITNESSES ON THE GROUND, THE LOAD WAS LIFTED, APPROXIMATELY 2500 LBS., AND DURING THE COURSE OF THE LIFT, THE LOAD BECAME CAUGHT ON TREES AND CAUSED THE SHEAR PIN TO SHEAR ON THE CARGO HOOK. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THE LONG LINE AND LOAD FELL TO THE GROUND AND PILOT TURNED THE AIRCRAFT 180 DEGREES AND BEGAN TO SEARCH FOR THE LONG LINE. THE GROUND CREW RADIOED THE PILOT TO "PULL-UP" BECAUSE THE ROTOR BLADES WERE HITTING TREES. THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED BACKWARDS, HITTING MORE TREES WITH THE ROTOR BLADES AND THEN DRIFTED FORWARD AND STRUCK A LARGE TREE AND FELLUNTIL IMPACT WHICH WAS APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET.

## 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 SEA01LA173](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA173), Sep 25, 2001: Kaman HH-43 (N55714), Bonners Ferry, ID, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate visual lookout which lead to his failure to maintain clearance from the nearby trees while in a high-hover. Factors include mountainous/hilly terrain, and tall trees in the…

## Other reports on N55714 (2)

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

- [Accident 19911014046499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911014046499A), Oct 14, 1991: Kaman HH43BFCHOPER (N55714), Mt Vernon, AL, Substantial damage. Reported uncommanded power reduction to flight idle. Forced landed in lake. No cause for reported problem found.
- [Accident 19880705025639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880705025639A), Jul 5, 1988: Kaman HH43BFCHOPER (N55714), Joseph, OR, Destroyed. Main rotors struck a tree while long line was being hooked to a log. Helicopter fell to the ground.

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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