# NTSB investigations, 2015: 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 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.

## 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 year(c."eventDate") = 2015
  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?year=2015

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