# Accident 20220907013509A: Bell BHT-205A-1, Cougar, WA, September 7, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 7, 2022, 16:15 local time
- Place: Cougar, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: HEAL
- Location: 46.0999° N, 122.3311° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.0999&lon=-122.3311&mi=10
- Aircraft: N66HJ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N66HJ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 205A-1 (registry code 1181414, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-205a-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming T-53 series (registry code 41549, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-t-53-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL BHT-205A-1
- Reported engine: HONEYWELL T53-17B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR22LA339](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA339) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220907013509A

## Narrative

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

AS STATED BY THE PILOT, AIRCRAFT WAS IN A HOVER APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET ABOVE THE WATER WITH WATER BUCKET ATTACKED TO EXTERNAL LONG LINE SITTING ON THE WATER. WHILE ENGAGED IN TIPPING THE BUCKET OVER PROCEDURE. THERE WAS A LOSS OF LIFT AND CONTROLABILITY OF THE HELICOPTER.  THE AIRCRAFT LURCHED DOWNWARD AND YAWED TO THE LEFT. ENGINE INDICATION HAD SHOWED THAT IT HAD LOST POWER. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO FALL, RAISED COLLECTIVE AT ABOUT 50 FEET MOMENTARILY. THEN HAD THE MASTER CAUTION LIGHTS AND LOW ROTOR RPM HORN SOUND. PILOT THEN ADDED FORWARD CYCLIC TO GET CLOSER TO THE SHORELINE AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS APPROACHING THE WATER RAPIDLY THE PILOT STARTED PUMPING THE COLLECTIVE AND PULLED THE COLLECTIVE AS HIGH AS POSSIBLE JUST PRIOR TO HITTING THE WATER HARD AND AT A FAIR FLAT ATTITUDE.  THE ENGINE WAS OUT AT THIS TIME AND BLADES QUIT TURNING AFTER IMPACT WITH THE WATER AND TAILBOOM. AIRCRAFT SETTLED DOWNWARD AND SLOWLY ROLLED ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE PILOT EXITED AS THE CABIN WAS RAPIDLY FILLING WITH WATER AND SWAM TO THE SHORELINE APPROXIMATLY 15 FEET.

## 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 WPR22LA339](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA339), Sep 7, 2022: Bell 205A-1 (N66HJ), Cougar, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The helicopter’s encounter with downdrafts during a low-altitude hovering maneuver while dipping for water.

## Other reports on N66HJ (1)

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

- [Accident 19920803057069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920803057069A), Aug 3, 1992: Bell 205A1 (N66HJ), Arco, ID, Substantial damage. Public use aircraft for us forest service.

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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