Garlick TH-1L N27FL

Summary

On 1 June 1995 at about 16:05 local time, a Garlick TH-1L registered N27FL, operated by Schuyler, SID, was involved in an accident near Umpqua, Oregon, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 June 1995 at 16:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Umpqua, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

43.3506, -123.5395

Aircraft

Garlick TH-1L

Registration

N27FL

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Schuyler, SID

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Myrtle Creek → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA95LA110

1 person died.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE WITH A TREE, RESULTING IN A TAIL ROTOR BLADE STRIKE ON THE TREE WHICH DISABLED THE TAIL ROTOR. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE 150-FOOT-HIGH ROCK BLUFF.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

WITNESSES SAW THE HELICOPTER STRIKE ITS TAIL ROTOR ON A TREE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LIFT A 3,000 POUND LOG SECTION USING A 150-FOOT LIFT LINE. THE TREE STRIKE DISABLED THE TAIL ROTOR, RESULTING IN LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE HELICOPTER SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED AT THE TOP OF A 150-FOOT-HIGH ROCK BLUFF, THEN SLID OFF THE BLUFF, COMING TO REST IN AN INVERTED ATTITUDE ON A 50 TO 60 PERCENT SLOPE ABOUT 250 FEET BELOW THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.