# Accident 20070716012619A: Bell UH1H, Benchmark, MT, July 16, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 16, 2007, 09:10 local time
- Place: Benchmark, MT
- Airport: Benchmark
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: YJDL
- Location: 47.5275° N, 113.0342° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5275&lon=-113.0342&mi=10
- Aircraft: N667HP, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N667HP-2015-05-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell UH-1H (registry code 1181407, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-uh-1h) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming T-55 SER TS (registry code 41555, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-t-55-ser-ts) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL UH1H
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 13,000 total, 650 in this make and model, 37 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA07TA202](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07TA202) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070716012619A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO SLING LOAD FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT OUT OF A REMOTE HELI-SITE IN A BURNED AREA. THE HELI-SITE HAD BEEN UNAPPROACHABLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS DUE TO SMOKE. DURING TAKEOFF, SMOKE QUICKLY ENTERED AREA AND PILOT LOST VISUAL REFERENCES. HELICOPTER SETTLED INTO BURNT TIMBER 400 FEET NORTH OF, AND 300 FEET IN ELEVATION BELOW, LIFT-OFF SITE. SLING LOAD WAS NOT RELEASED. PILOT WAS UNINJURED UNTIL HE REMOVED HIS HELMET DURING EVACUATION, THEN HE SUSTAINED MINOR CUTS/PUNCTURES TO THE FACE FROM TREE BRANCHES IN A RUSH TO GET AWAY FROM HELICOPTER. HELICOPTER TAIL ROTOR WAS FIRST TO CONTACT GROUND IN DOWNSLOPE FLIGHT. TAIL BOOM SEPARATED FROM FUSELAGE. ONE MAIN ROTOR SEVERED A TREE AND SEPARATED MID SPAN, THE OTHER WAS CRACKED. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE NOTED BY PILOT, WITNESSES ON THE GROUND OR FOREST SERVICE SAFETY TEAM INVESTIGATION.

## 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 SEA07TA202](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07TA202), Jul 16, 2007: Bell UH-1H (N667HP), Benchmark, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: Dense smoke/haze which restricted the pilot's visibility and the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the emergency descent resulting in impact with terrain.

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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