# NTSB investigations, AK: 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.

## Latest cases

- [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 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 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 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 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 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.
- [NTSB ANC08LA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08LA076.md): Eurocopter AS-350 BA · Chickaloon, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 23, 2008 · N357CH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's incorrect actions during an out-of ground-effect hover, which resulted in the helicopter entering a main rotor ring vortex state, and a settling with power condition, producing an excessive descent rate and collision with terrain.

## 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."eventStateOrRegion" = 'AK' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
  AND 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?state=AK

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