Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Canby, Oregon 97013
Tuesady, November 25, 1997 10:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/25/1997
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City CANBY
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97013
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 260
Weather Observation Facility ID AUO
Elevation of weather observation facility 196
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 7
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 7
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1672
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 25 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1133
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:41PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8160G
NTSB Number SEA98LA017
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bell
Aircraft Model TH-1L
Aircraft Series Identifier TH-1L
Aircraft Serial Number 157839
Certified Max Gross Weight 9500
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GUTHRIE, KENNETH, G.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 107 COUGAR CREST DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City COUGAR
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98616
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P. O. BOX 14
Operator City COUGAR
Operator State WA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 98616
Operator Code GLEA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation External Load
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City MOLALLA
Departure State OR
Departure Country
Departure Time 1025
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State OR
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --