# Accident 20040714015949A: Bell 222U, Louie Lake, ID, July 14, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 14, 2004, 12:20 local time
- Place: Louie Lake, ID
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: BAQA
- Location: 44.8517° N, 115.9653° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8517&lon=-115.9653&mi=10
- Aircraft: N277LF, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N277LF-2010-04-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 222U (registry code 1182140, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-222u) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming LTS-101 600A series (registry code 41562, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-lts-101-600a-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 222U
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,200 total, 580 in this make and model, 80 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA04LA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA145) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040714015949A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT WAS CAREFUL TO CHECK HIS POWER IN AN OUT OF GROUND EFFECT HOVER BEFORE HE LANDED AT A REMOTE MOUNTAIN SITE TO PICK UP A MEDICAL EVACUATION PATIENT. HE STATED THAT HE USED 80 PERCENT POWER TO HOVER. WHILE LOADING HIS PATIENT, HE FIGURED HE BURNED OVER 200 POUNDS OF FUEL AND THE PATIENT WAS 180 POUNDS. THE WIND WAS CALM AT THE TIME HE LIFTED OFF BUT HE WAS SURROUNDED BY HIGH TREES. WHEN HE LIFTED OFF, JUST AS HE CLEARED THE TREES, HE FELT THE AIRCRAFT SETTLE AND HE NOTICED HE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO CLIMB OUT OF THE AREA. HE LANDED BACK AT THE ORIGINAL SITE BUT DID NOT SEE A BOULDER STICKING OUT OF THE GROUND THE LEFT SKID HIT THE BOULDER. DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE LEFT SKID AND CROSS TUBE. THE HELICOPTER ROTATED AROUND AND THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A ONE INCH DIAMETER TREE LIMB WITH ONLY ONE OF THE BLADES. THE PILOT SUSPECTED HE ENCOUNTERED WIND SHEAR AS HE CLEARED THE TREE LINE ON DEPARTURE.

## 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 SEA04LA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA145), Jul 14, 2004: Bell 222U (N277LF), Louie Lake, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to maintain rotor rpm and his inadequate recovery from a bounced landing. Factors contributing to the accident included the tailwind condition and the tree.

## Other reports on N277LF (1)

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

- [Incident 20020217002809I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020217002809I), Feb 17, 2002: Bell 222U (N277LF), Boise, ID, Minor damage. (-23) Pilot made a hard landing after receiving #1 engine gearbox chip light. Damage after impact to night sun spot light, landing gear skids and crossmembers…

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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