# Accident 20121215028489A: Eurocopter AS350-B3, Beluga, AK, December 15, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 15, 2012, 10:00 local time
- Place: Beluga, AK
- Airport: Off Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: EOOL
- Location: 61.1869° N, 151.1854° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Beluga, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1869&lon=-151.1854&mi=10
- Aircraft: CGYPH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER AS350-B3
- Reported engine: TURBOMECA ARRIEL
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 3,003 total, 48 in this make and model, 91 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121215028489A

## Narrative

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

AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 LOCAL TIME, WHILE CONDUCTING A CLASS B EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION, THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED TERRAIN, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER AND SERIOUSLY INJURING THE PILOT.

WHEN THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED, THE EXTERNAL LOAD WAS FOUND 500 FEET AWAY FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE SITE WITH 45 FEET OF THE LOAD LINE STILL ATTACHED.  THE MAIN WRECKAGE CAME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE AND THE SITE CONTAINED THE REMAINING PARTS OF THE HELICOPTER.

THE TAIL ROTOR SECTION, AFT OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, WAS LOCATED 250 FEET FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE WITH APPROXIMATELY 55 FEET OF LOAD LINE COILED AROUND IT 13 TIMES.

A CLOSER INSPECTION OF THE LINE ATTACHED TO THE EXTERNAL LOAD REVEALS NO SWIVEL WAS USED (NOT REQUIRED) AND LARGE AMOUNTS OF TWISTING ON THE LOAD LINE SLEEVE. THE FOUR POINT CABLE ATTACHMENT ON THE TOP OF THE EXTERNAL LOAD WAS ALSO TWISTED AND FRAYED, INDICATING THE LOAD HAD BEEN SPINNING IN FLIGHT.

CURRENTLY NO REGULATIONS EXIST REQUIRING THE UTILIZATION OF SWIVELS WHEN CONDUCTING EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATIONS.  IN ADDITION, THE USE OF A SWIVEL IS NOT REQUIRED IN PRISM HELICOPTER'S OPERATIONS MANUAL.

A SAFETY RECOMMENDATION WILL BE SUBMITTED TO REQUIRE THE USE OF A SWIVEL FOR CLASS B OR C EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATIONS.

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

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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