Bell 212 N212HP

Summary

On 21 July 2009 at about 17:10 local time, a Bell 212 registered N212HP, operated by USDA Forest Service, was involved in an accident near Willow Creek, California, United States. 6 people were on board and one died. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 July 2009 at 17:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Willow Creek, California, United States

Nearest airport

Willow Creek Helibase (PVT)

Coordinates

40.9464, -123.6325

Aircraft

Bell 212

Registration

N212HP

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

USDA Forest Service

Operating rule

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Willow Creek → Willow Creek

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR09TA356

1 person died.

The rappeller's failure to properly latch the rappelling harness to the rappelling assembly before exiting the helicopter.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The purpose of the flight was to conduct proficiency rappel training. During a preflight equipment check, one of the rappellers identified a broken "Kong" clip on the Tri-link/J-hook interface on the harness. He replaced the Kong clip with a rubber O-ring (an authorized substitution) and then he returned to the helicopter. Minutes later, with the helicopter in a stabilized hover, witnesses on the ground reported that they observed the rappeller transition from inside the helicopter to the port side skid, then fall down the rope at excessive speed. Postaccident examination of the rope and harness assembly revealed that the rappeller's J-hook was attached to the Sky Genie and rope; however, the J-hook was not attached to the Tri-link and harness. A broken O-ring, believed to be the O-ring used to center the Tri-link and J-hook, was found on the ground approximately 30 feet from where the harness assembly was located. Evidence obtained during the investigation suggests that the rappeller's Tri-link and J-hook were not mechanically linked (prior to the rappeller transitioning to the skid), but rather inadvertently linked together with a non load-bearing O-ring used to center the latching devices. Examination of the J-hook, Sky Genie, Tri-link and harness by investigators from the US Forest Service revealed no evidence of malfunction or defect.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.