Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chalkhill, Pennsylvania 15421
Sunday, September 22, 1985 10:10 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED ON AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION WITH A 100 FT CABLE ATTACHED. WHEN A 618 LB LOAD WAS READY TO BE MOVED, THE PLT STARTED THE ENG, LIFTED OFF & MOVED THE HELICOPTER TO A HOVER OVER THE LOAD. THE LOADERS HOOKED THE LOAD TO THE CABLE & GAVE THE PLT A SIGNAL TO DEPART, THEN THEY NOTICED THE CABLE WAS DROOPED OVER THE AFT PART OF THE LEFT SKID. THE CREW TRIED TO SIGNAL THE PLT, BUT AS THE HELICOPTER LIFTED THE LOAD, IT BEGAN MOVING IN A REARWARD & LEFT TURNING, PENDULOUS MOTION. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER CRASHED NEARLY INVERTED ONTO WOODED TERRAIN. AFTER THE ACDNT, THE 100 FT CABLE WAS ABOVE THE HELICOPTER IN A TREE & EXTENDED TO WHERE IT WAS WRAPPED AROUND ANOTHER TREE. ALL OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS WERE FOUND OPEN. THE CARGO HOOK HAD A MANUAL & AN ELECTRICAL RELEASE. THE CARGO HOOK WAS TORN FROM THE HELICOPTER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/22/1985
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1010
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City CHALKHILL
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 15421
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 9
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 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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
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) 30
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 --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2849
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 22 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 30754
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 N32TV
NTSB Number NYC85FA245
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 206B
Aircraft Series Identifier 206B
Aircraft Serial Number 1112
Certified Max Gross Weight 3350
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 16 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 77
Airframe Hours 4898
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name NORTHWEST HELICOPTER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O.BOX 1652
Operator City OGDEN
Operator State UT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 84402
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
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 --