# Accident 20101030052689A: Md Helicopt 369E, Lead Mine, WV, October 30, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 30, 2010, 10:30 local time
- Place: Lead Mine, WV
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: IZWL
- Location: 39.2006° N, 79.5381° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2006&lon=-79.5381&mi=10
- Aircraft: N765WH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MD HELICOPT 369E
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C20R/2
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 3
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA11FA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11FA042) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101030052689A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT HAD JUST COMPLETED AN AERIAL APPLICATION CALLED A "CLIPPING OPERATION" OF FIBER OPTIC WIRE ON A POWER LINE TOWER STRUCTURE. THE 3 LINEMEN HAD JUST TRANSFERRED FROM ATOP THE TOWER STRUCTURE TO THE AIRCRAFT AND THERE WERE 2 LINEMEN IN THE REAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT SITTING ON THE FLOOR, 1 LINEMAN ON THE LEFT SKID, AND AN EXTERNAL LOAD ATTACHED TO A 40 FOOT LONG LINE. AS THE PILOT CLEARED THE TOWER STRUCTURE IN A CLIMBING OUT MANEUVER, THE EXTERNAL LOAD CAUGHT ON THE TOWER 16 FEET FROM THE TOP, AND THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A SEVERE VIBRATION WITH A SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF CONTROL. THE TAIL ROTOR CONTACTED ONE OF THE LOWER HIGH VOLTAGE POWER LINES (LINE WAS DE-ENERGIZED), RESULTING IN LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR AUTHORITY AND IMPACT WITH THE GROUND.  THE EXTERNAL LOAD SYNTHETIC LONG LINE HAD SNAPPED 14 FEET ABOVE THE EXTERNAL LOAD APPARATUS. THIS PORTION OF THE LINE AND APPARATUS WERE FOUND AT THE BASE OF THE TOWER STRUCTURE. THE REST OF THE LONG LINE REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE CARGO HOOK MOUNT ON THE FUSELAGE. THE LINEMAN ON THE LEFT SKID RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY, CLEAR, AND CALM, WITH A 10 MILE VISIBILITY AND NO WINDS.

## 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 ERA11FA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11FA042), Oct 30, 2010: MD Helicopters 369E (N765WH), Thomas, WV, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to clear the helicopter and its external load from surrounding structures and his failure to execute a timely release of the external load, which resulted in an inadvertent…

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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