- Date
- February 23, 1994, 13:20 local (21:20 UTC)
- Place
- Seaside, OR
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N62413Hiller-Soloy H-23D
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 12, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940223002839A
- Case key
- 41878
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper use of flight controls resulting in settling with power.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot added power after releasing a sling load of cedar shakes from a hover. The helicopter began a descent with power which the pilot was unable to stop. During the recovery maneuver the helicopter collided with terrain and rolled over.
Factual narrative
On February 23, 1994, at approximately 1320 hours Pacific standard time (PST), a Hiller H-23D Soloy conversion, N62413, registered to Bennie B. Finnell, operated by Helicopter Enterprises, Inc., and being flown by Kevin I. Warner, a commercially certificated pilot, impacted terrain and rolled over while in a descent near Seaside, Oregon. The helicopter was destroyed and the pilot sustained minor injuries. The pilot reported visual meteorological conditions at the time of accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was engaged in sling loading cedar shakes, was to have been operated in accordance with the requirements set forth in 14CFR133, and originated from a helicopter pad near the accident site.
The pilot reported that after releasing a sling line of shakes and adding power while in a hover, the helicopter began to settle. He reported that he "lowered collective" and began a descent to attempt a recovery. Upon nearing the surface he "applied full power and contacted the surface sliding forward along the log landing" and that "the left forward skid hooked and (the) aircraft rolled to the left side, main rotor blades contacting the ground."
The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or power loss during the event.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N62413
- Reported as
- Hiller-Soloy H-23D
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1372
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20B, 420 lbs thrust, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 133
- Operator
- Helicopter Enterprises, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Finnell, Bennie, B.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,231 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 50 °F, dew point 43 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N62413 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.