Bell 214B-1 N814RM

Summary

On 23 February 1992 at about 19:30 local time, a Bell 214B-1 registered N814RM, operated by RMH Aerologging, was involved in an accident near Hobart Bay, Alaska, United States. 11 people were on board and 6 died, 5 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 February 1992 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Hobart Bay, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bell 214B-1

Registration

N814RM

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

RMH Aerologging

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Field Site → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC92FA040

6 people died.

SEPARATION OF THE TAIL ROTOR AND 90 DEGREE GEARBOX DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES/DIRECTIVES WHICH RESULTED IN THE EXTERNAL LOAD CABLE BECOMING ENTANGLED IN THE TAIL ROTOR. FACTORS WERE THE TURBULENT WEATHER AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT IN COMMAND HAD A MECHANIC ATTACH A 30 FOOT CHOKER CABLE TO THE EXTERNAL CARGO HOOK SO THAT WHEN HE CAME TO A HOVER TO PICK UP PASSENGERS, THE CABLE WOULD TOUCH THE GROUND AND DISSIPATE THE STATIC ELECTRICITY. AFTER PICKING UP THE LAST TIMBER CUTTERS, EN ROUTE TO BASE CAMP, THE HELICOPTER FLEW THROUGH TURBULENCE AND A PASSENGER IN THE CABIN YELLED. THE PILOT TURNED TO LOOK AT THE PASSENGER, LOOKED FORWARD, HEARD A BANG AND EXPERIENCED A YAW. THE TAIL ROTOR AND 90 DEGREE GEARBOX SEPARATED FROM THE HELICOPTER AND HE AUTOROTATED INTO TALL TREES. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION SHOWED THE MARKS IN THE TAILROTOR BLADE MATCHED THE SOCKET SHAPE AT THE END OF THE CABLE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.