# NTSB investigations: External load event (Rotorcraft)

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

Page 1 of 2 · 51 cases

## Latest cases

- [NTSB GAA25WA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA25WA147.md): Bell 206 · Copey - Cesar, Colombia · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Foreign · Feb 14, 2025 · HK5189 · Substantial damage
- [NTSB WPR25LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA034.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Durkee, OR · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Nov 7, 2024 · N4361R · Substantial damage
  > The 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 ERA25LA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA040.md): Hughes 369D · Waycross, GA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 5, 2024 · N11AS · Substantial damage
  > An encounter with a foreign object, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with terrain.
- [NTSB CEN24LA358](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA358.md): Hughes 369 · Canton, MI · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 11, 2024 · N8969F · Substantial damage
  > Fatigue cracking of the main rotor blade that occurred at an undetermined time.
- [NTSB WPR24LA247](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA247.md): Bell 407 · Stanley, ID · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 11, 2024 · N21BH · Substantial damage
  > A sudden wind shift which resulted in a rapid descent and subsequent dynamic rollover and collision into water.
- [NTSB WPR24LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA036.md): Bell OH-58A · Estacada, OR · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 15, 2023 · N103WC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control during an external load operation, which resulted in the helicopter’s main rotor blades impacting the tail boom.
- [NTSB ANC23LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA085.md): Eurocopter AS 350 B3 · Johnson River, AK · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 16, 2023 · N297SH · No damage
  > The ground crew’s failure to remain clear of a tag line during sling load operations, resulting in his entanglement.
- [NTSB CEN23LA385](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA385.md): Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206 · Hibbing, MN · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 27, 2023 · N19BH · Substantial damage
  > The ground crew’s failure to secure the backpack at the landing zone (LZ), that resulted in the tail rotor impacting the backpack during the landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate selection of an area at the LZ, the lack of awareness…
- [NTSB ANC21LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA079.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Pelican, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 30, 2021 · N878CB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper preflight planning to ensure adequate power to hover out-of-ground effect while conducting external load operations.
- [NTSB WPR21LA268](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA268.md): Bell 212HP · Weed, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 7, 2021 · N911KW · Substantial damage
  > The 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 CEN21LA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA102.md): Hughes 369D · Tuckers Crossing, MS · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Dec 29, 2020 · N103SU · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s loss of helicopter control when the external saw contacted trees during an attempted emergency landing due to a main rotor transmission oil pressure warning. The reason that the pilot did not release the external saw from the helicopter during the…
- [NTSB WPR20LA244](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA244.md): American Eurocopter AS350 · Pioche, NV · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 29, 2020 · N755AE · Destroyed
  > The 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 ANC20CA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA070.md): Bell 206L-1 · Homer, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Jul 16, 2020 · N1432D · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to see and avoid the boat's mast, which resulted in a main rotor blade strike. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight planning by not having the boat's mast measured.
- [NTSB ERA20LA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA160.md): Hughes 369 · Pylesville, MD · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 25, 2020 · N9159F · Substantial damage
  > The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of unporting of the fuel tank supply pickup while the helicopter was maneuvered to move a conductor wire. Contributing to the accident was the helicopter’s inappropriate configuration for the type of…
- [NTSB GAA19WA598](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19WA598.md): Aerospatiale AS350 · Kitzbühel, Austria · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 5 · Foreign · Dec 12, 2019 · OE-XHE · No damage
- [NTSB CEN19FA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA020.md): Hughes 369 · McDougal, AR · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 2 · Field · Final report · Nov 2, 2018 · N5187S · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain the helicopter's clearance from the powerline structure while hovering in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in an inadvertent collision with the structure and an uncontrolled descent into terrain.
- [NTSB GAA18CA573](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA573.md): Hiller UH 12E · Frankfort, KS · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 20, 2018 · N1349A · Substantial damage
  > The ground crewmember's improper grabbing of the hovering helicopter's skid during an external load hook-up, which resulted in the helicopter descending and the main rotors striking ground equipment.
- [NTSB ERA18FA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18FA122.md): MD Helicopter 600 · Smethport, PA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 8, 2018 · N602BP · Destroyed
  > The 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 ERA18LA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA091.md): Hughes 369 · San Juan, PR · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 11, 2018 · N571HH · No damage
  > The 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 CEN18LA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA026.md): Hughes 369D · Sulphur, LA · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 7, 2017 · N138WH · No damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate separation between a long line being used to hoist linemen from a shield wire during an external load flight, which resulted in the long line being severed.
- [NTSB ERA17TA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17TA170.md): Bell 206 · Orange Springs, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Final report · May 2, 2017 · N911GE · Substantial damage
  > The 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 CEN17FA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA127.md): Mcdonnell Douglas Heli 369FF · Chalmers, IN · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 14, 2017 · N530KD · Destroyed
  > The 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 WPR16LA175](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA175.md): Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 500N · Honolulu, HI · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 2, 2016 · N5232G · No damage
  > The 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 ERA16LA253](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA253.md): Bell 429 · Georgetown, DE · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 11, 2016 · N1SP · No damage
  > The 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 GAA16CA179](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA179.md): Bell 206 · Supai, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 6, 2016 · N73AW · Substantial damage
  > The 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 GAA15CA258](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA258.md): Airbus AS350 · Draper, UT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 9, 2015 · N253HP · Substantial damage
  > The 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 WPR15LA248](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA248.md): Sikorsky S 61A · Ironside, OR · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 20, 2015 · N1043T · Substantial damage
  > A 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 GAA15LA217](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15LA217.md): MD Helicopter 369E · Whitefish, MT · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 5, 2015 · N43792 · Substantial damage
  > The 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 CEN15FA210](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA210.md): Eurocopter Deutschland MBB BK 117 C-2 · Austin, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 28, 2015 · N392TC · No damage
  > The helicopter rescue specialist was not properly attached to the hoist system, which resulted in a fall during a night hoist operation.
- [NTSB WPR14GA281](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14GA281.md): American Eurocopter AS350B3 · Fallon, NV · Accident · Minor injuries · Final report · Jul 4, 2014 · N832PA · Substantial damage
  > A loss of tail rotor effectiveness, which resulted in an uncontrolled rotation and descent into terrain. Contributing to the accident was a sudden shift in wind conditions and the helicopter's high power demand condition due to its load weight and operating…
- [NTSB ANC14FA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14FA030.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Chugiak, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 28, 2014 · N392GP · Destroyed
  > The pilot's loss of control of the helicopter due to impairment or incapacitation from a sudden, acute cardiac event.
- [NTSB WPR14LA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA160.md): Agustawestland AW109SP · Astoria, OR · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 5, 2014 · N361CR · No damage
  > The 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 WPR14CA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA041.md): Bell 206B · Superior, MT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 2, 2013 · N888DR · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering during a long-line operation.
- [NTSB CEN13LA461](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA461.md): Hughes 369D · Ackerly, TX · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 5, 2013 · N8688F · No damage
  > The pilot’s failure to identify and maintain adequate clearance from a shield wire that was suspended between power transmission line towers.
- [NTSB WPR13GA338](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13GA338.md): Bell HH-1H · Mount Charleston, NV · Accident · 1 fatal · Final report · Jul 23, 2013 · N233JP · No damage
  > 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 communication between the rescuer and the hoist operator.
- [NTSB WPR13LA303](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA303.md): Bell 206L-3 · Missoula, MT · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 28, 2013 · N868H · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to prevent the helicopter from settling with power and to maintain proper position relative to an external load, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent hard landing.
- [NTSB CEN13CA281](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA281.md): Hughes 369D · Camdenton, MO · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 15, 2013 · N725M · Substantial damage
  > The piece of wood/tree that contacted the main rotor blade during the low altitude tree-trimming flight.
- [NTSB ANC13FA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13FA017.md): Eurocopter AS350 B3 · Beluga, AK · Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 15, 2012 · C-GYPH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to stabilize the external load, which led to the synthetic long-line separating about midspan and the remaining line becoming entangled in the tail rotor gearbox output shaft and resulted in the separation of the tail rotor gearbox and…
- [NTSB CEN13FA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA075.md): Hughes 369 · Childress, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 27, 2012 · N28MP · Substantial damage
  > The 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 WPR12LA279](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA279.md): Bell UH-1F · Concrete, WA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 26, 2012 · N4582D · No damage
  > Arcing of an energized electrical power line to the external long line and the conduct of electrical energy to ground personnel.
- [NTSB WPR12LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA036.md): Bell 206B · Woodburn, OR · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 14, 2011 · N16HA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain ground clearance while maneuvering with an external load line.
- [NTSB WPR11WA421](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11WA421.md): Hughes 369D · South Malekula, Vanuatu, Vanuatu · Accident · 1 fatal · Foreign investigation · Aug 28, 2011 · YJ-HEL · Substantial damage
  > On 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 WPR11LA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA048.md): MD Helicopter 369D · Salem, OR · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 15, 2010 · N155PH · Substantial damage
  > The 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 ERA11FA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11FA042.md): MD Helicopters 369E · Thomas, WV · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 30, 2010 · N765WH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to clear the helicopter and its external load from surrounding structures and his failure to execute a timely release of the external load, which resulted in an inadvertent entanglement and collision with wires and terrain. Contributing to…
- [NTSB ERA10LA238](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA238.md): Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E · Newfane, VT · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 21, 2010 · N400MB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadvertent encounter with a rope while maneuvering during powerline operations for undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB WPR10FA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA012.md): Mcdonnell Douglas Heli 369FF · Fossil, OR · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 12, 2009 · N527SH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a power pole to which he was connecting wire-pulling ropes.
- [NTSB WPR09TA353](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09TA353.md): Croman SH-3H · Willow Creek, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Final report · Jul 17, 2009 · N613CK · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate power during egress from a heliwell, which resulted in collision with the heliwell and a dynamic rollover.
- [NTSB CEN09WA612](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09WA612.md): Eurocopter AS350 · Barcelona, Spain · Accident · 2 fatal · Foreign investigation · Jun 22, 2009 · EC-IOJ · Destroyed
  > On June 22, 2009 a Eurocopter AS350B3, Spanish registration EC-IOJ was destroyed while filling the fire attack system with water during a fire extinguishing operation. The pilot and passenger both were killed. According to several witness statements, the…
- [NTSB WPR09LA226](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA226.md): MD Helicopter 369FF · Santa Clarita, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 1, 2009 · N67FF · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the water while maneuvering at low altitude as a result of the helicopter's grappling hook temporarily becoming ensnared with an underwater obstruction.
- [NTSB ANC08LA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08LA127.md): Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 · Homer, AK · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 26, 2008 · N305MH · Substantial damage
  > The 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.

Next page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/480/sequence.md?page=2

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
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 s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s."tier2Number" = '480' AND s.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE "isDefiningEvent"))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/480/sequence

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