# Accident 20130722017699A: Bell HH-1H, Mt. Charleston, NV, July 22, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 22, 2013, 22:20 local time
- Place: Mt. Charleston, NV
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.2783° N, 115.6708° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2783&lon=-115.6708&mi=10
- Aircraft: N233JP, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N233JP) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell HH-1H (registry code 1180605, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-hh-1h) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL HH-1H
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,592 total, 92 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR13GA338](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13GA338) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130722017699A

## Narrative

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

ON 07-22-13 AT APPROXIMATELY 2220 HOURS, A BELL HH-1H HELICOPTER, OPERATED BY THE LAS VEGAS METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO AN AREA WITHIN THE MOUNT CHARLESTON NATIONAL FOREST TO RESCUE A STRANDED HIKER.

DURING THE COURSE OF THE RESCUE, A RESCUE OFFICER WAS LOWERED TO THE HIKER, VIA AN ONBOARD RESCUE HOIST, ONTO A SMALL ROCK LEDGE LOCATED ON A LARGE SHEER VERTICAL ROCK WALL.  AFTER SECURING THE HIKER TO THE HOIST LINE, WHILE THE HELICOPTER CREW WAS IN THE PROCESS OF RAISING THE RESCUE OFFICER AND THE STRANDED HIKER BACK UP TO THE HELICOPTER, THE RESCUE OFFICER BECAME DETACHED FROM THE HOIST LINE AND FELL TO THE GROUND.

THE RESCUE OFFICER WAS LATER FOUND TO HAVE SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES IN THE FALL.

NONE OF THE INVOLVED EQUIPMENT ON THE AIRCRAFT OR AFFIXED TO THE RESCUE OFFICER WAS FOUND TO HAVE MALFUNCTIONED.

## 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 WPR13GA338](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13GA338), Jul 23, 2013: Bell HH-1H (N233JP), Mount Charleston, NV, no damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The premature hoisting operation and the inadvertent disengagement of the hoist hook on the rescuer’s harness in dark night conditions. Contributing to the accident was a lack of direct audio…

## Other reports on N233JP (1)

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

- [Incident 20120518012079I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120518012079I), May 18, 2012: Bell HH-1H (N233JP), Las Vegas, NV, Minor damage. Wind shifted during complex training flight causing rotor blade to come in contact with canyon wall.

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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