# Accident 20060923021739A: Aerosp SA319B, Port Alsworth, AK, September 23, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 23, 2006, 16:30 local time
- Place: Port Alsworth, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: L49L
- Location: 60.2414° N, 156.4044° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.2414&lon=-156.4044&mi=10
- Aircraft: N119PH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N119PH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerospatiale SA319B ALOUETTE III (registry code 8680607, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-sa319b-alouette-iii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSP SA319B
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,300 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC06LA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06LA137) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060923021739A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS TRANSPORTING A PREVIOUSLY CRASHED PIPER PA-18 AIRPLANE ON A 100 FOOT EXTERNAL LOAD LINE. THE EXTERNAL LOAD LINE WAS ATTACHED TO A SPREADER BAR THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE WING STRUCTURE OF THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS FLYING ABOUT 60 KNOTS, AND ABOUT 2,000 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL), WHEN HE FELT THE LOAD SHIFT. HE INDICATED THAT IT FELT AS IF THE SUSPENDED AIRPLANE BECAME LIGHT, OR UNLOADED, AND HE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO SLOW THE HELICOPTER'S AIRSPEED. THE HELICOPTER THEN SUDDENLY PITCHED NOSE-DOWN ABOUT 45 DEGREES. THE TAIL BOOM OF THE HELICOPTER WAS STRUCK BY ONE OR MORE MAIN ROTOR BLADES, SEVERING THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT, AND ONE OR MORE OF THE MAIN ROTOR HUB SPACING CABLES BROKE AT THEIR FRANGIBLE BOLT ATTACH POINTS. THE PILOT SAID THAT ABOUT 1,000 FEET AGL, HE SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, AND PERFORMED A TOUCH DOWN AUTOROTATION. DURING THE LANDING ON SOFT TUNDRA, ONE OF THE MAIN LANDING GEAR WHEELS DUG INTO THE TERRAIN, AND THE HELICOPTER'S TAIL BOOM WAS STRUCK BY THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES, SEVERING ABOUT TWO FEET OF THE AFT END OF THE TAIL BOOM. THE PILOT HAS NOT DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE EXTERNAL LOAD SHIFT.

## 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 ANC06LA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06LA137), Sep 24, 2006: Aerospatiale SA319B (N119PH), Port Alsworth, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to adequately secure the external load rigging of an airplane that was suspended from the helicopter, which resulted in a load shift during cruise flight, producing an abrupt…

## Other reports on N119PH (1)

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

- [Accident 20030407007139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030407007139A), Apr 7, 2003: Aerosp SA319B (N119PH), Valdez, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) While performing 135 heliski ops pilot approached lz at 5500'. At touch down aircraft began to shake pilot lifted off to smooth out system shake became…

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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