# Accident 20040223001789A: Garlik UH1H, Ellensburg, WA, February 23, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 23, 2004, 12:47 local time
- Place: Ellensburg, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: SXHL
- Location: 47.2375° N, 120.6419° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2375&lon=-120.6419&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6257P, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6257P) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Garlick Helicopters UH-1H (registry code 3740005, https://openairdocs.org/model/garlick-helicopters-uh-1h) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming T-53 series (registry code 41549, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-t-53-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GARLIK UH1H
- Reported engine: LYC T53*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 14,000 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA04LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA043) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040223001789A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON FEBRUARY 23, 2004 N6257P, A MILITARY SURPLUS 1963 GARLICK UH1-H HELICOPTER CRASHED AT A LOGGING SITE LOCATED 16 MILES NORTH OF ELLENSBURG, WASHINGTON ON US FOREST SERVICE PROPERTY. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE OR MAYBE DETERMINED TO BE UNREPAIRABLE AT A LATER DATE. THIS AIRCRAFT WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY SKYLINE HELICOPTERS INC. OF COLLEGE PLACE, WASHINGTON. THE PILOT RECEIVED FACIAL LACERATIONS AND SPINAL COMPRESSION INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. HE WAS ADMITTED AND RELEASED FROM THE WENATCHEE, WASHINGTON HOSPITAL AFTER THREE DAYS OF TREATMENT. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT N6257P HAD JUST RELEASED A LOAD OF LOGS. THE HELICOPTER WAS CONFIGURED WITH A 180-FOOT LONG LINE, AND A 15-FOOT CHOKER. BOTH THE WITNESS, AND PILOT INTERVIEWS DESCRIBED A TAIL ROTOR FAILURE FROM A 195-FOOT HIGH HOVER OVER THE LOG DECK. THE LOADER FROM THE GROUND DESCRIBED AN "EXPLOSION" FROM THE BACK OF THE HELICOPTER, AND STATED THE HELICOPTER SPUN TO THE GROUND WHERE THE ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE LOG DECK, AND THE ENGINE AREA ON THE ACTUAL LOADER. THE POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION INDICATES THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. IT APPEARS THAT THE DAMAGE TO THE COMPOSITE MAIN ROTOR BLADES AND TRANSMISSION WAS AS A RESULT OF THE EMERGENCY LANDING. THE POST CRASH INVESTIGATION OF THE TAIL ROTOR SECTION INDICATES AN IN-FLIGHT TAIL ROTOR MALFUNCTION. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE INDICATES THAT THE TAIL ROTOR BLADE ACTUALLY HIT THE VERTICAL FIN BETWEEN THE 42 AND 90-DEGREE GEARBOXES. THIS IMPACT RESULTED IN A SUDDEN STOPPAGE OF THE TAIL ROTOR, AND TWISTED THE DRIVE SHAFT LOCATED BETWEEN THE GEARBOXES INTO TWO PIECES. AN INSPECTION OF THE TAIL ROTOR PITCH ASSEMBLY REVEALED THAT THE "SLIDER" ATTACHED TO THE CROSSHEAD HAD FAILED. THIS COULD HAVE POSSIBLY ALLOWED THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES INTO AN UNCOMMANDED FEATHER POSITION. WITH THE HIGH INERTIA OF THE TAIL ROTOR THIS COULD POSSIBLY ALLOW THE TAIL ROTOR TO CONTACT THE HELICOPTER'S VERTICAL FIN. THIS SLIDER, MILITARY PART #204-010-720-3 IS A LIFE-LIMITED PART, AND WAS NOT MARKED WITH ANY PART NUMBERS AS REQUIRED BY FAA REGULATION. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THIS SLIDER IS AN UNAPPROVED PART. THE 90-DEGREE GEARBOX, COMPLETE TAIL ROTOR PITCH ASSEMBLY, AND TAIL ROTOR BLADES WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE NTSB OFFICE SEATLLE, WASHINGTON. THE NTSB WILL LIKELY COMPLETE AN ANALYSIS OF THESE PARTS AT THEIR WASHINGTON D.C. NTSB LAB OR THE BELL TEXTRON LAB IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS. NOTHING FOLLOWS.

## 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 SEA04LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA043), Feb 23, 2004: Garlick UH-1H (N6257P), Liberty, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the tail rotor slider lugs due to fatigue while the helicopter was maneuvering.

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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