Bell 47G-3B1 N1334X

Summary

On 1 October 1983 at about 13:45 local time, a Bell 47G-3B1 registered N1334X, operated by Beartooth Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Pliny, West Virginia, United States. 3 people were on board and one died, 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

1 October 1983 at 13:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Pliny, West Virginia, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bell 47G-3B1

Registration

N1334X

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Beartooth Helicopters, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL84FA001

1 person died.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECT TRANSMISSION LINES. A 150-FT LONGLINE CABLE HAD BEEN UTILIZEDON AN EARLIER FLIGHT FOR LIFTING EXTERNAL LOADS. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE LONGLINE TO BE ATTACHED ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT AS THE PAX WERE BEING TRANSPORTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THEIR CONSTRUCTION & INSPECTION DUTIES. THE HELICOPTER TOOK OFF WITH THE LONGLINE ATTACHED & NO EXTERNAL LOAD. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE HELICOPTER MOVED FORWARD ABOUT 200 FT TO A TREELINE & BEGAN A LEFT TURN, AWAY FROM TOWER 51 WHERE THE TAKEOFF WAS INITIATED, TOWARD A POINT WHERE ONE OF THE PAX WAS TO BE DISCHARGED. AS THE HELICOPTER FLEW OVER THE TREES THE LONGLINE BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE TREES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.