Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wrangell, Alaska 99299
Saturday, August 11, 2001 11:50 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The operator of the helicopter logging operation reported that a steel long line cable failed while the flight crew was setting a load of logs down. The long line rebounded into the main and tail rotor blades, causing substantial damage to both sets of blades. The flight crew was able to make an immediate and successful emergency landing without further damaging the helicopter.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The separation of a steel long line cable that failed and rebounded from a load of logs into the helicopter's main and tail rotors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/11/2001
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1150
Event Time Zone --
Event City Wrangell
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99299
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 562000N
Event Location Longitude 1323000W
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11977
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Aug 11 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1607
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 15 2002 12:15PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Juneau

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5193Y
NTSB Number ANC01LA109
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Sikorsky
Aircraft Model S61A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 61184
Certified Max Gross Weight 22000
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Aug 10 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 9
Airframe Hours 14310
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SILVER BAY LOGGING INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8429 Livingston Way
Aircraft Owner City Juneau
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99801
Operator is an individual? No
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 NZBR
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation External Load
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Wrangell
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone ADT
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 Other
Report sent to ICAO? Yes
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 31 2002 7:17PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --