NTSB investigations
31 cases where the defining event was External load event (Rotorcraft).
Cases per year
| 2008 | 1 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
Where
Open the mapLatest cases
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1 WHERE c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT e.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e.\"isDefiningEvent\" AND e.\"tier2Number\" = '480') ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"
Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1 WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT e.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e."isDefiningEvent" AND e."tier2Number" = '480') ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.
NTSB GAA25WA147Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · ForeignBell 206 · Copey - Cesar, ColombiaNTSB WPR25LA034Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Durkee, ORThe pilot's inadequate performance planning, which resulted in insufficient engine power to transition into an out-of-ground-effect hover at a high gross weight.NTSB ERA25LA040Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportHughes 369D · Waycross, GAAn encounter with a foreign object, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with terrain.NTSB ANC23LA085Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportEurocopter AS 350 B3 · Johnson River, AKThe ground crew’s failure to remain clear of a tag line during sling load operations, resulting in his entanglement.NTSB ANC21LA079Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Pelican, AKThe pilot’s improper preflight planning to ensure adequate power to hover out-of-ground effect while conducting external load operations.NTSB WPR21LA268Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell 212HP · Weed, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain altitude during an approach to a lake. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to release the full water bucket as the helicopter was settling, which reduced the helicopter’s out-of-ground-effect performance.NTSB WPR20LA244Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAmerican Eurocopter AS350 · Pioche, NVThe pilot’s failure to maintain altitude from terrain and subsequent loss of helicopter control due to entanglement of the external load cable with the tail rotor.NTSB GAA19WA598Accident · Serious injuriesClass 5 · ForeignAerospatiale AS350 · Kitzbühel, AustriaNTSB ERA18FA122Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportMD Helicopter 600 · Smethport, PAThe helicopter pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance during power line construction work, which resulted in the helicopter's main rotor striking and becoming entangled with a wire and a subsequent dynamic rollover and collision with terrain.…NTSB ERA18LA091Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 369 · San Juan, PRThe helicopter pilot's improper decision to use an open-end grapple, instead of an A-frame attachment, to lift and move a ladder with a lineman on it and the lineman's improper decision to be lifted on a ladder via an open-end grapple, which were contrary to…NTSB ERA17TA170Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportBell 206 · Orange Springs, FLThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance between the helicopter's skid and the firefighting bucket and suspension cable, which resulted in the cable becoming entangled on the landing skid and a subsequent loss of helicopter control.NTSB CEN17FA127Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportMcdonnell Douglas Heli 369FF · Chalmers, INThe pilot's failure to ensure that the needle did not entangle with the tower's vertical lattice as he moved the helicopter rearward, which resulted in the helicopter becoming tethered to the tower and a subsequent loss of control.NTSB WPR16LA175Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 500N · Honolulu, HIThe pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in the helicopter rescue net’s contact with a utility pole and serious injury to an occupant who fell from the rescue net. Contributing to the accident was the…NTSB ERA16LA253Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBell 429 · Georgetown, DEThe emergency response team's failure to ensure that the system operator was secured to the helicopter, which resulted in his fall during the recurrent rescue hoist training operation.NTSB GAA16CA179Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 206 · Supai, AZThe pilot's decision to fly a normal approach and forgetting that the long line remained attached to the helicopter, which resulted in the line snagging on a ridgeline, a loss of lateral control, and a rollover.NTSB GAA15CA258Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportAirbus AS350 · Draper, UTThe ground recovery team member's failure to secure a rescue rope during the helicopter loading process in steep terrain, resulting in the rope fouling the helicopter's main rotor system.NTSB WPR15LA248Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSikorsky S 61A · Ironside, ORA loss of power to the No. 2 engine due to the failure of the accessory gearbox drivetrain. Also causal was the pilot’s inability to release the external longline due to the use of a safety wire across the coupling of the quick-disconnect mechanism, which…NTSB GAA15LA217Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMD Helicopter 369E · Whitefish, MTThe pilot’s failure to maintain altitude and a level attitude while hovering over water at night during an external load operation, which resulted in the helicopter’s main rotor contacting the surface of the water.NTSB CEN15FA210Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportEurocopter Deutschland MBB BK 117 C-2 · Austin, TXThe helicopter rescue specialist was not properly attached to the hoist system, which resulted in a fall during a night hoist operation.NTSB ANC14FA030Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Chugiak, AKThe pilot's loss of control of the helicopter due to impairment or incapacitation from a sudden, acute cardiac event.NTSB WPR14LA160Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAgustawestland AW109SP · Astoria, ORThe decision by the ship pilot and the helicopter crew to lower the ship pilot to a location on the ship that did not provide the helicopter pilot with an adequate view of the ship. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate pre-mission coordination…NTSB WPR13GA338Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportBell HH-1H · Mount Charleston, NVThe 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 communication between the rescuer and the hoist operator.NTSB CEN13CA281Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportHughes 369D · Camdenton, MOThe piece of wood/tree that contacted the main rotor blade during the low altitude tree-trimming flight.NTSB CEN13FA075Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportHughes 369 · Childress, TXThe improper maintenance of the helicopter fuel system that resulted in erroneous fuel gauge indications and the pilot’s inadequate fuel management, both of which resulted in fuel exhaustion during a long-line hover. Also causal was the lack of company…NTSB WPR12LA279Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell UH-1F · Concrete, WAArcing of an energized electrical power line to the external long line and the conduct of electrical energy to ground personnel.NTSB WPR12LA036Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206B · Woodburn, ORThe pilot’s failure to maintain ground clearance while maneuvering with an external load line.NTSB WPR11WA421Accident · 1 fatalForeign investigationHughes 369D · South Malekula, Vanuatu, VanuatuOn August 28, 2011, at 1500 universal coordinated time, a Hughes 369D, Vanuatu registration YJ-HEL, collided with the ground after the attached long-line became entangled in the rotor system near Malekula, Vanuatu. The helicopter was operated by Vanuatu…NTSB WPR11LA048Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMD Helicopter 369D · Salem, ORThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance between the longline and trees, which resulted in the longline snagging a tree and then recoiling into the main rotor blades and a subsequent loss of helicopter control.NTSB ERA10LA238Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E · Newfane, VTThe pilot's inadvertent encounter with a rope while maneuvering during powerline operations for undetermined reasons.NTSB WPR09TA353Accident · Minor injuriesFinal reportCroman SH-3H · Willow Creek, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate power during egress from a heliwell, which resulted in collision with the heliwell and a dynamic rollover.NTSB ANC08LA127Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 · Homer, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during an external load lift. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of situational awareness.