Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Malvern, Arkansas 72104
Wednesday, May 8, 1985 11:20 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A POWERLINE CONSTRUCTION OPERATION, A GROUND CREW MEMBER HOLDING A ROPE LEAD LINE RELEASED THE ROPE PREMATURELY AS THE HELICOPTER BECAME AIRBORNE. THE NYLON ROPE ENTANGLED THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM FORCING THE PLT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. THE GROUND CREW MEMBER IS SUPPOSED TO RETAIN A HOLD OF THIS LINE UNTIL THE HELICOPTER CLEARS THE TOWER WHERE THE LINE STRINGING OPERATION IS BEING CONDUCTED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/8/1985
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1120
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City MALVERN
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 72104
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 5
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1047 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 300
Weather Observation Facility ID HOT
Elevation of weather observation facility 540
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 318
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 8 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1430
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 27495
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9EE
NTSB Number MKC85LA098
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 HUGHES
Aircraft Model 369HS
Aircraft Series Identifier 369HS
Aircraft Serial Number 0684S
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1500
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CANE RIDGE INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 325
Aircraft Owner City BRINKLEY
Aircraft Owner State AR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 72021
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name THREE RIVERS HELICOPTERS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address BOX 302,BRINKLEY MUNI.AIRPORT
Operator City BRINKLEY
Operator State AR
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 72021
Operator Code
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 MALVERN
Departure State AR
Departure Country
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 --