# NTSB FTW94LA033: Bell 204-B, N41699, Cedar Crest, NM, October 1, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 1, 1993, 09:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Cedar Crest, NM
- Coordinates: 35.120029, -106.410591 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1200&lon=-106.4106&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 26, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18968
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA033
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18968/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA033

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF GROUND PERSONNEL TO FOLLOW PUBLISHED PROCEDURES. A FACTOR WAS THE THE LOAD JETTISON.

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, maneuvering
  - load jettison - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, ground personnel (cause)

## Analysis

DURING EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATIONS THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO POSITION HIS LOAD, A TELEPHONE POLE, INTO A HOLE.  THE HELICOPTER WAS MOVED TO A DESIGNATED LOAD RELEASE AREA SO THAT THE PILOT COULD JETTISON THE LOAD. AFTER THE LOAD WAS JETTISONED A WORKER RAN INTO THE AREA TO RETRIEVE A TOOL AND THE TELEPHONE POLE BOUNCED INTO HIM.

## Factual narrative

On October 1, 1993, at 0900 mountain daylight time, a Bell 204-B helicopter, N41699, jettisoned an external load while maneuvering near Cedar Crest, New Mexico, resulting in serious injuries to a ground worker.  The helicopter was operating under visual meteorological conditions.  Idaho Helicopters was the operator.

The pilot reported, in his written report, and during an interview conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, that he was setting a pole between two existing telephone poles when he determined he could not put it in place.  He reported that he attempted to place the pole in the hole three times before he maneuvered to a designated release area so that he could jettison the load.

The pilot and other witnesses reported that a ground worker entered the designated release area to retrieve a tool after the load was jettisoned.  Witnesses reported that when the telephone pole was jettisoned it struck the ground and bounced into the worker.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N41699](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41699-1998-08-10), registration cancelled 1998-08-10, S/N 2040 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 204-B
- Registry model: [Bell 204-B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-204-b) (registry code 1181404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2040
- Engines: LYCOMING L-13 1400 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 133
- Registered owner: Idaho Helicopters
- Departed: AEG, ALBUQUERQUE, NM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,500 total, 8,400 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 135° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °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 19931001046359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931001046359A), Oct 1, 1993: Bell 204B, Cedar Crest, NM. Unable to set telephone pole jettisoned pole in designated area. Pole bounced hit ground man that had entered area.

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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