# NTSB SEA94LA069: Bell 47G-3B-1, N4082J, Hanksville, UT, February 28, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 28, 1994, 12:10 local (19:10 UTC)
- Place: Hanksville, UT
- Coordinates: 38.270587, -110.749084 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2706&lon=-110.7491&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41883
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA069
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41883/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA069

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S DELAY IN RELEASING HIS TOW LINE WHEN THE LINE BECAME ENTANGLED WITH WIRES.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - external load sling/harness - entangled (cause)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

JUST AFTER A LINEMAN RELEASED THE HELICOPTER TOW LINE FROM A POWER LINE THAT WAS BEING POSITIONED ON A POWER POLE, THE HELICOPTER TOW LINE BLEW BACK INTO THE POWER POLE GUY WIRES. INSTEAD OF RELEASING THE TOW LINE AT THAT TIME, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER THE TOW LINE AWAY FROM THE GUY WIRES. DURING THIS PROCESS THE PILOT LOST SIGHT OF THE TOW LINE, AND THE TOW LINE ENGAGED ONE OF THE GUY WIRES. THE HELICOPTER WAS THEN PULLED INTO A STEP BANK BY THE ENGAGED TOW LINE, AND THE PILOT'S RELEASE OF THE TOW LINE CAME TOO LATE FOR HIM TO COMPLETE A RECOVERY PRIOR TO IMPACTING THE TERRAIN.

## Factual narrative

On February 28, 1994, approximately 1210 mountain standard time (MST), a Bell/Soloy 47G-3B-1 helicopter, N4082J, impacted the terrain while stringing power lines about 10 miles west of Hanksville, Utah. The airline transport rated pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, received minor injuries, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The FAR Part 133 flight, which had departed a nearby refueling pad about 15 minutes earlier, was in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation.

According to the pilot, who had just pulled a power line across five or six power poles, when the lineman who was working on the power pole released the helicopter tow line from the power line, the tow line was blown back into the power pole guy wires. At that point, the pilot "...moved the aircraft left and aft to get away from the wire..." but did not release the tow line from the helicopter. The pilot then lost sight of the tow line, and according to witnesses, the hook on the end of the line engaged one of the power pole guy wires. The helicopter then experienced a rapid roll to the left, and the pilot electronically released the tow line. Soon after the tow line was released, the helicopter impacted the terrain.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4082J (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-3B-1
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 6790
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 240 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 133
- Operator: High Country Helicopters
- Registered owner: High Country Helicopters
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 2, 1994

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,885 total, 350 in this make and model, 6,700 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 67 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °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 19940228006769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940228006769A), Feb 28, 1994: Bell 47G3B1, Hanksville, UT, Substantial damage. Tow line released by lineman not by pilot. Blew back and caught guy wire. Pulled left. Pilot released line to late.

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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