Garlick UH-1H N83NW

Summary

On 24 July 1998 at about 14:30 local time, a Garlick UH-1H registered N83NW, operated by Northwest Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Libby, Montana, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 July 1998 at 14:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Libby, Montana, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Garlick UH-1H

Registration

N83NW

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Northwest Helicopters, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA98LA146

1 person was seriously injured.

A failure of the external load cable, which became entangled in the tail rotor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that while conducting external load logging operations, he was hooked up to a tree length root wad which had been knocked over and topped. He picked up the tree length and laid it over 180 degrees from its original position in order to break the roots from the ground. With the roots loose, he started a takeoff and the tree left the ground and was in the air for approximately 25-50 yards. The roots then impacted the ground; the Kevlar long-line snapped about midpoint and the broken end rebounded up into the tail rotor. The pilot stated that he immediately realized he had a tail rotor failure. He informed the ground crew and found the only open area, which was approximately 100 yards from the point of failure. On the second 360 degree spin, he reduced power when the nose was pointed at the intended crash site. He stated that he realized he was too low to make it, so he pulled pitch, which put him in a rapid spin. He struck some trees on his second or third spin and then fell. After impact, he evacuated from the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.