- Date
- July 24, 1998, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Libby, MT
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N83NWGarlick UH-1H
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 11, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980724023869A
- Case key
- 43711
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
A failure of the external load cable, which became entangled in the tail rotor.
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 stated that while conducting external load logging operations, he was hooked up to a tree length root wad which had been knocked over and topped. He picked up the tree length and laid it over 180 degrees from its original position in order to break the roots from the ground. With the roots loose, he started a takeoff and the tree left the ground and was in the air for approximately 25-50 yards. The roots then impacted the ground; the Kevlar long-line snapped about midpoint and the broken end rebounded up into the tail rotor. The pilot stated that he immediately realized he had a tail rotor failure. He informed the ground crew and found the only open area, which was approximately 100 yards from the point of failure. On the second 360 degree spin, he reduced power when the nose was pointed at the intended crash site. He stated that he realized he was too low to make it, so he pulled pitch, which put him in a rapid spin. He struck some trees on his second or third spin and then fell. After impact, he evacuated from the helicopter.
Factual narrative
On July 24, 1998, approximately 0830 mountain daylight time, a Garlick UH-1H, N83NW, sustained substantial damage during an emergency landing while helicopter logging 45 miles north or Libby, Montana. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, sustained a broken arm. The operation was operating in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated that he was hooked up to a tree length root wad which had been knocked over and topped. He picked up the tree length and laid it over 180 degrees from its original position in order to break the roots from the ground. With the roots loose, he started a takeoff and the tree left the ground and was in the air for approximately 25-50 yards. The roots then impacted the ground, the Kevlar long line snapped about midpoint and the broken end rebounded up into the tail rotor.
The pilot stated that he immediately realized he had a tail rotor failure. He informed the ground crew and found the only open area, which was approximately 100 yards from the point of failure. On the second 360 degree spin, he chopped the throttle when the nose was pointed at the intended crash site. He stated that he realized he was too low to make it, so he pulled pitch, which put him in a rapid spin. He struck some trees on his second or third spin and then fell. After impact, he evacuated from the helicopter.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N83NW
- Reported as
- Garlick UH-1H
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 64-13699
- Airframe hours
- 16,203
- Engine
- Lycoming T53-L-13B, 1,200 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 133
- Operator
- Northwest Helicopters, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Reynolds Aviation, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · July 20, 1998 · 26 hours before
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 50
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 8,660 total · 4,160 in this make and model · 8,500 as pilot in command · 107 in the last 90 days · 67 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.