Bell TH-1L N8160G

Summary

On 25 November 1997 at about 18:30 local time, a Bell TH-1L registered N8160G was involved in an accident near Canby, Oregon, United States. 7 people were on board and 7 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

25 November 1997 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Canby, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

45.2105, -122.6599

Aircraft

Bell TH-1L

Registration

N8160G

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Molalla → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA98LA017

7 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's allowance of excessive airspeed resulting in the long-line hook impacting the tail rotor, and his allowance of an airspeed bleed-off preventing a successful run-on landing due to a loss of yaw control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was repositioning the helicopter to a new work location with the 30 foot long-line in trail. While en route at 80 knots and 500 feet AGL, the pilot lost view of the line and hook in the aircraft's chin mirror when, in his words it 'became unstable.' Shortly thereafter, the hook impacted the tail-rotor blade assembly. The pilot then attempted to execute a run-on landing, but allowed his airspeed to bleed off beyond the point where he could maintain any directional control. The aircraft then began a right yaw and, after approximately 720 degrees of revolution, impacted the ground in a near level attitude with a near vertical flight path.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.