- Date
- April 26, 1999, 09:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- Snoqualmie, WA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N98WBell 212
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 2, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990426040399A
- Case key
- 47111
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
Clearance from an object was not maintained. A tree was a factor.
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 reported that he was moving sand, via an external load bucket, to a golf course sand trap which was located near a tree line. The pilot reported that the trees were about 50 to 60 feet in height, and that there was little room for movement. The pilot stated that at the time of the accident, the bucket was placed just short of the target area. As the pilot moved the cyclic to reposition the load, the tip plane of the main rotor blades dipped down and came in contact with a tree branch. The pilot stated that he did not realize that the collision had occurred until about 15 minutes later, when he noticed the broken tree branch. The pilot landed the helicopter without further incident to inspect for damage.
Factual narrative
On April 26, 1999, at 0900 Pacific daylight time, a Bell 212, N98W, registered to and operated by Weyerhaeuser Company, as a 14 CFR Part 133 external load operation, was substantially damaged when the main rotor blades collided with trees during a hover near Snoqualmie, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a company visual flight rules flight plan was in effect. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight had been performing external load operations in the local area throughout the morning.
In a written statement, the pilot reported that he was moving sand, via an external load bucket, to a golf course sand trap. The pilot stated that the sand trap was located near a tree line with little room for movement to place the bucket. The trees were about 50 to 60 feet in height. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, the bucket was placed just short of the target area. As the pilot moved the cyclic to reposition the load, the tip plane of the main rotor blades dipped down and came in contact with a tree branch. The pilot stated that he did not realize that the collision had occurred until about 15 minutes later, when he noticed the broken tree branch. The pilot landed the helicopter without incident to inspect for damage. During the inspection, substantial damage was found to the main rotor blades.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N98W
- Reported as
- Bell 212
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 35100
- Airframe hours
- 1,255
- Engine
- P&W PT63B, 1,600 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 133
- Registered owner
- Weyerhaeuser Co.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · March 21, 1999 · 55 hours before
- Departed
- Snoqualmie, WA
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
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
- 55
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 7,000 total · 3,000 in this make and model · 6,800 as pilot in command · 60 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 40° at 10 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 46 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.