# Accident 20230916013319A: Eurocopter AS 350 B3, Johnson River, AK, September 16, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 16, 2023, 10:16 local time
- Place: Johnson River, AK
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: 2SYL
- Location: 60.1500° N, 152.9000° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.1500&lon=-152.9000&mi=10
- Aircraft: N297SH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N297SH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter AS 350 B3 (registry code 8680954, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER AS 350 B3
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 15,300 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC23LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA085) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230916013319A

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEBER 16TH 2023 A HELICOPTER COMPANY WHILE UNDER CONTRACT WITH A MINING COMPANY, WORKING WITH A DRILLING COMPANY, WERE CONDUCTING SLING LOAD OPORATIONS. WHILE LIFTING A RIG SHACK FROM THE DRILL RIG, THE DRILL HELPERS FOOT GOT CAUGHT IN A TAG LINE THAT WAS SECURED TO THE RIG SHACK. BECAUSE OF HIS POSITION IN RELATION TO THE HELICOPTER HE WAS NOT VISIBLE TO THE PILOT OR THE DRILLER WHO WAS DIRECTING THE HELICOPTER VIA HAND AND ARM SIGNALS. WHEN THE RIG SHACK WAS LIFTED FROM THE PLATFORM THE DRILL HELPER WAS DRUG CLEAR THE PLATFORM. AT THIS POINT HIS LEG WAS FREED FROM THE TAG LINE. THE DRILL HELPER THEN FELL APPROXIMATLY 8 TO 10 FEET TO THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER PILOT SAW THE DRILL HELPER FALL AND SUBSIQUENTLY MOVED THE LOAD AWAY FROM THE PLATFORM, SET IT DOWN AND REALEASED IT. HE THEN REPOSTIONED THE AIRCRAFT, LANDED AND PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO THE DRILL HELPER. THE DRILL HELPER WAS LOADED INTO THE HELICOPTER AND TAKEN TO BASE CAMP. AT BASE CAMP A MEDICAL EVALUATION WAS CONDUCTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE DRILL HELPER SHOULD BE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE DRILL HELPER WAS LOADED INTO THE HELICPTER AND TAKEN TO PROVIDENCE MEDICAL CENTER IN ANCHORAGE, AK. THE DRILL HELPER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH 3 BROKEN RIBS. IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE DRILLING COMPANY THAT THE USE OF AN (INCORRECT PART) INCORRECT TAG LINE WAS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 ANC23LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA085), Sep 16, 2023: Eurocopter AS 350 B3 (N297SH), Johnson River, AK, no damage. Probable cause: The ground crew’s failure to remain clear of a tag line during sling load operations, resulting in his entanglement.

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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