# Accident 20030323003739A: Skrsky S61A, Kembal, TN, March 23, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 23, 2003, 08:00 local time
- Place: Kembal, TN
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: NBEL
- Location: 35.2497° N, 85.9997° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2497&lon=-85.9997&mi=10
- Aircraft: N81664, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81664-2017-07-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Sikorsky S-61A (registry code 814210C, https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-61a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: GE CT58 series (registry code 30011, https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-ct58-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SKRSKY S61A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 26,500 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL03FA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03FA065) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030323003739A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON 3/23/03 A SIKORSKY S-16A, N81664, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY CARSON HELICOPTERS INC., COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN AND BURST INTO FLAMES DURING A LOGGING OPERATION IN A REMOTE AREA NEAR THE CITY OF KIMBAL, TN. THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 133 FOR EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATIONS AND VISUAL FLIGHT RULES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED AND THE SECOND COMMERCIAL RATED CREWMEMBER RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE HELICOPTER WAS DESTROYED.

## 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 ATL03FA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03FA065), Mar 23, 2003: Sikorsky S-61A (N81664), Kimble, TN, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The interruption of rotor system drive power due to the input free wheeling unit malfunctioning , and the pilot's operation of the helicopter in the critical area of the height-velocity curve.

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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