# Accident 20090721017989A: Bell 212, Willow Creek, CA, July 21, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 21, 2009, 10:10 local time
- Place: Willow Creek, CA
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.9464° N, 123.6325° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9464&lon=-123.6325&mi=10
- Aircraft: N212HP, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N212HP) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 212 (registry code 1181420, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6 series (registry code 52033, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 212
- Reported engine: PWA PT6T3B
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 6,002 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR09TA356](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09TA356) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090721017989A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON JULY 21, A RAPPELLER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES FROM AN UN-ARRESTED DESCENT OUT OF A HELICOPTER FROM AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET.  THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING RAPPEL PROFICIENCY TRAINING.  AS THE INDIVIDUAL WAS MOVING INTO THE RAPPEL POSITION ON THE PORT SIDE SKID, HE FELL FROM THE AIRCRAFT.  THE INDIVIDUAL RECEIVED IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION AT THE SCENE FROM EMT'S AND PARAMEDICS.  THE INDIVIDUAL WAS DECLARED DECEASED AT THE SCENE BY A PARAMEDIC FROM THE ARCATA AMBULANCE FOLLOWING APPROPRIATE ACLS PROTOCOLS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE MAD RIVER COMMUNITY HOSPITAL.  THE MISSION HELICOPTER WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE HELI-1 CORPORATION UNDER EXCLUSIVE-USE CONTRACT TO THE US FOREST SERVICE.

## 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 WPR09TA356](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09TA356), Jul 21, 2009: Bell 212 (N212HP), Willow Creek, CA, no damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The rappeller's failure to properly latch the rappelling harness to the rappelling assembly before exiting the helicopter.

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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