# NTSB CEN13CA501: Mcdonnell Douglas Heli 369FF, N975BW, Reese, MI, August 22, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 22, 2013, 17:48 local (21:48 UTC) - Place: Reese, MI - Coordinates: 43.471111, -83.661392 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4711&lon=-83.6614&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 2, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Eastern Michigan FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87845 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA501 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87845/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87845 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA501 ## Probable cause The failure of the temporary hoist holding the powerline wire which resulted in a brief loss of control and main rotor blade impacts with the tower. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The helicopter was conducting an electrical power line construction operation with a lineman standing outside on the skid. The wire was temporarily suspended by a hoist and the lineman was inserting a fiber shoe to attach the wire to the arm of the tower. While the helicopter was hovering next to the wire at about 200 feet above ground level the hoist slipped and the wire fell onto the top of the helicopter's skid. Control was briefly lost and four of the helicopter's main rotor blades impacted the tower resulting in substantial damage to the main rotor blades. The pilot quickly regained control and made an emergency landing in tall corn about 200 feet from the accident location. ## Factual narrative The helicopter was conducting an electrical power line construction operation with a lineman standing outside on the skid. The wire was temporarily suspended by a hoist and the lineman was inserting a fiber shoe to attach the wire to the arm of the tower. While the helicopter was hovering next to the wire at about 200 feet above ground level the hoist slipped and the wire fell onto the top of the helicopter's skid. Control was briefly lost and four of the helicopter's main rotor blades impacted the tower resulting in substantial damage to the main rotor blades. The pilot quickly regained control and made an emergency landing in tall corn about 200 feet from the accident location. ## Aircraft - Registration: N975BW (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELI CO 369FF - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0103FF - Year built: 1994 - Airframe hours: 3451 - Engines: ROLLS-ROYC 250 20&30 SER 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: External load, Part 133 - Operator: Rogers Helicopters Inc, doing business as Rogers Helicopters Inc - Registered owner: Robin Rogers - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Unknown, August 18, 2013, 44 hours before - Departed: MBS, Saginaw, MI - Destination: MBS, Saginaw, MI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 6,000 total, 4,500 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KMBS, 8 nm away ## 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 20130822015309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130822015309A), Aug 22, 2013: Mcdonnell Douglas Heli Co 369FF, Reese, MI, Substantial damage. Operation was for the repair of a fiber shoe that supports a fiber optic line that was attached to a tower about 200' above the ground. The lineman on board… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 22, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87845. 565 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 565 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400331&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.