# NTSB ANC95LA112: Bell 206B-3, N58129, Bettles, AK, July 21, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 20, 1995, 17:00 local (Jul 21, 1995, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Bettles, AK
- Coordinates: 67.240158, -152.269348 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.2402&lon=-152.2693&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 14, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 2693
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA112
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2693/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA112

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ENSURING THE SLING CABLE WAS FREE OF THE SKID BEFORE LIFTING OFF INTO A HOVER, WHICH ALLOWED THE CABLE TO BECOME WRAPPED (ENTANGLED) AROUND THE SKID.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, hover
  - external load equipment - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - external load cable/hook - entangled (cause)
  - load jettison - not possible, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LIFT AN EXTERNAL LOAD. THE SLING CABLE WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE AFT PART OF THE RIGHT SKID. AS THE PILOT INCREASED THE HOVER HEIGHT, THE CABLE BECAME TAUT. HE ATTEMPTED TO JETTISON THE LOAD, BUT THE CABLE WOULD NOT RELEASE. HE THEN LANDED THE HELICOPTER ON THE EXTERNAL LOAD.

## Factual narrative

On July 20, 1995, at 1700 Alaska daylight time, a skid equipped, Bell 206 B-3 helicopter, N58129, registered to and operated by Tundra Helicopters of Fairbanks, Alaska, struck a skid on the ground while attempting to lift a sling load and landed on the external load, at Bettles, Alaska.  The external load flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 133, was departing Bettles for a field mining site in the local area.  A visual flight rules flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  The airline transport certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  The helicopter received substantial damage.

According to the statement provided by the pilot in the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, he was attempting to lift an external load with the helicopter.  As he raised the helicopter to a hover, the sling load lift cable became wrapped around the right rear skid.  He attempted to release the external load when the cyclic control travel reached the lateral stop.  The load would not jettison.  He then landed the helicopter on the external load.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N58129](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N58129-2001-11-16), registration cancelled 2001-11-16, S/N 1136, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B-3
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 400HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (registry code 03013, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1136
- Airframe hours: 7650
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 317 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 133
- Registered owner: Tundra Helicopters
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: MINING SITE, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: BET, Bettles, runway 1, 5,200 × 150 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 11,275 total, 3,042 in this make and model, 9,055 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 61 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19950720049089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950720049089A), Jul 20, 1995: Bettles, AK, No damage. (-16) Airman stated that he attached a sling load consisting of 2 55 gal drums of fuel to the external load hook and in doing so he inadvertently placed the…

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.

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