Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Park City, Utah 84060
Tuesady, November 28, 1989 14:45 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED ON AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION TO MOVE EQUIPMENT FROM THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN. A 100 FT CABLE WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE HELICOPTER WHEN WORKERS NEEDED TO BE TRANSPORTED UP THE HILL. WITNESSES REPORTED THE PILOT INITIATED A NORMAL TAKEOFF, INSTEAD OF A VERTICAL TAKEOFF, WHICH HE HAD BEEN USING WITH THE CABLE ATTACHED. DURING THE TAKEOFF, THE HOOK ON THE END OF THE CABLE SNAGGED ON AN EQUIPMENT TRAILER. THE HOOK BROKE FREE OF THE TRAILER AND THE CABLE REBOUNDED INTO THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. THE HELICOPTER THEN BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND CRASHED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAKE A VERTICAL TAKEOFF, WHILE DEPARTING WITH A CABLE ATTACHED, AND HIS FAILURE TO INSURE THE CABLE REMAINED CLEAR OF THE TRAILER. THE TRAILER (VEHICLE) WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/28/1989
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1445
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City PARK CITY
Event State UTAH
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 84060
Event Date Year 1989
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 4
Injury Total All 6
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1368
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 28 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1515
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39666
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:12PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N62268
NTSB Number DEN90FA028
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 AEROSPATIALE
Aircraft Model SA316B
Aircraft Series Identifier SA316B
Aircraft Serial Number 2046
Certified Max Gross Weight 4850
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Oct 7 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 29
Airframe Hours 8692
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROCKY MOUNTAIN HELICOPTERS,INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1337
Aircraft Owner City PROVO
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 84603
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code DYRL
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1444
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --