Bell 47G-3B-1 N4082J

Summary

On 28 February 1994 at about 19:10 local time, a Bell 47G-3B-1 registered N4082J, operated by High Country Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Hanksville, Utah, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 February 1994 at 19:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Hanksville, Utah, United States

Coordinates

38.2706, -110.7491

Aircraft

Bell 47G-3B-1

Registration

N4082J

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

High Country Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA94LA069

1 person had minor injuries.

THE PILOT'S DELAY IN RELEASING HIS TOW LINE WHEN THE LINE BECAME ENTANGLED WITH WIRES.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

JUST AFTER A LINEMAN RELEASED THE HELICOPTER TOW LINE FROM A POWER LINE THAT WAS BEING POSITIONED ON A POWER POLE, THE HELICOPTER TOW LINE BLEW BACK INTO THE POWER POLE GUY WIRES. INSTEAD OF RELEASING THE TOW LINE AT THAT TIME, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER THE TOW LINE AWAY FROM THE GUY WIRES. DURING THIS PROCESS THE PILOT LOST SIGHT OF THE TOW LINE, AND THE TOW LINE ENGAGED ONE OF THE GUY WIRES. THE HELICOPTER WAS THEN PULLED INTO A STEP BANK BY THE ENGAGED TOW LINE, AND THE PILOT'S RELEASE OF THE TOW LINE CAME TOO LATE FOR HIM TO COMPLETE A RECOVERY PRIOR TO IMPACTING THE TERRAIN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.