# NTSB WPR12LA279: Bell UH-1F, N4582D, Concrete, WA, June 26, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 26, 2012, 14:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Concrete, WA - Coordinates: 48.529724, -121.758056 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5297&lon=-121.7581&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: External load event (Rotorcraft)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/480) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 26, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 84122 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA279 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84122/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84122 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA279 ## Probable cause Arcing of an energized electrical power line to the external long line and the conduct of electrical energy to ground personnel. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell UH-1P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=118141Q), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell UH-1P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=118141Q), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: External load event (Rotorcraft)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/480) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell UH-1P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/480/sequence.md?model=118141Q), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/480/sequence.md) ## Analysis The operator reported that the pilot was positioning a concrete bucket as an external load attached to a long line. At the end of the long line was a remote hook that was activated electrically from the cockpit. The pilot maneuvered the concrete bucket to the work location, which placed the long line 15-20 feet from a known energized power line. The energized electrical power line arced to the long line, and electrical energy was conducted down the remote hook circuit to the bucket, seriously injuring a construction worker who was ground handling the bucket. ## Factual narrative On June 26, 2012, at 1415 Pacific daylight time, a Bell UH-1F, N4582D, was conducting long line external load operations near Concrete, Washington, when an electrical arc from an energized power line traveled down the long line and seriously injured a person on the ground. Salmon River Helicopters operated the helicopter under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 133. The commercial pilot was not injured, and the helicopter was not damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was active. The helicopter was positioning a concrete bucket as an external load attached to a long line. At the end of the long line was a remote hook that was activated electrically from the cockpit. The helicopter maneuvered the concrete bucket attached to the long line to the work location, which placed the long line 15-20 feet from the energized power line. The energized electrical power line arced to the long line, and electrical energy was conducted down the remote hook circuit to the bucket and injured a construction worker who was ground handling the bucket. The worker's injuries involve burns and hospitalization. The operator reported that there were moderate rain showers in the vicinity. Visible moisture, rain, sleet, or snow, can facilitate an electrical arc from a hot power line. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4582D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4582D), registered now, S/N 63-13163, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL UH-1F - Registry model: [Bell UH-1P](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-uh-1p) (registry code 118141Q) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming T53L-703](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-t53l-703) (registry code 41557, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 63-13163 - Airframe hours: 15808 - Engines: LYCOMING T53-L-13 1400 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: No damage - Flight: External load, Part 133 - Operator: Salmon River Helicopters - Registered owner: Gmc Logging Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: AAIP, June 18, 2012 - Departed: K3W5, Concrete, WA - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 20, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 24,926 total, 6,180 in this make and model, 22,445 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 70 °F - Observed at: KVBS, 26 nm away ## 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 20120626011639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120626011639A), Jun 26, 2012: Bell UH-1F, Concrete, WA, No damage. On June 26, 2012, UH1F helicopter, N4582D, was involved in an accident injuring a ground worker while conducting external load operations in close proximity to… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 11, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84122. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375977&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation with the FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 242 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375978&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20the%20FAA%20Inspector-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.