20050518008579A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Bell 206B · Huffman, TX · May 18, 2005

Date: May 18, 2005 · 08:30 local
Place: Huffman, TX
Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
Operator: Q4LL
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N276M
NTSB investigation: NTSBDFW05LA123
Reported as: Bell 206B
Reported engine: Allison 250C20B
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,181 total136 in this make and model100 in the last 90 days

N276MRegistration cancelled Oct 19, 2015 · Bell 206BS/N 1876 Airframe modelBell 206B

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) The helicopter was engaged in external load long line operations during the flight immediately prior to the accident. The helicopter departed with a long line attached to the helicopter cargo hook and a sling cable basket, which snagged a nearby truck and trailer dragging the helicopter to the ground. The pilot stated to the department of public safety officer that he had "forgot to unhook the dragline."

As the FAA filed it

(-23) THE HELICOPTER WAS ENGAGED IN EXTERNAL LOAD LONG LINE OPERATIONS DURING THE FLIGHT IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED WITH A LONG LINE ATTACHED TO THE HELICOPTER CARGO HOOK AND A SLING CABLE BASKET, WHICH SNAGGED A NEARBY TRUCK AND TRAILER DRAGGING THE HELICOPTER TO THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER THAT HE HAD "FORGOT TO UNHOOK THE DRAGLINE."

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB DFW05LA123Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHuffman, TXThe pilot's inadequate preflight and his failure to disconnect the external load cable prior to takeoff.May 18, 2005 · Destroyed