Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

35 W. Of Ketchi, Alaska 99901
Tuesady, July 20, 1982 20:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A SLING LOAD OPERATION WITH A 50 FT CABLE ATTACHED. AFTER THE LAST SLING LOAD WAS MOVED TO A NEW DRILLING SITE, THE PILOT ELECTED TO LEAVE THE CABLE ATTACHED SINCE THERE WAS NO SUITABLE LANDING AREA NEARBY. HE STATED THAT THE CABLE WAS TRAILING NICELY AS HE DESCENDED DOWN A 1500 FT BLUFF ABOVE THE MAIN CAMP. HOWEVER, AS HE REDUCED THE RATE OF DESCENT AND FORWARD VELOCITY, AND APPLIED POWER, THE CABLE BECAME ENGAGED IN THE TAIL ROTOR. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PILOT LOST EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND CRASHED ON A ROCKY BEACH. THE TAIL ROTOR AND TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX WERE FOUND ABOUT 100 FT FROM THE HELICOPTER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/20/1982
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 2015
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City 35 W. OF KETCHI
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99901
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 7
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 Unknown
Time of the weather observation 2050
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 87
Weather Observation Facility ID KTN
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 35
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 20000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 35
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 63
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1035
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N58414
NTSB Number SEA82DA120
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 HUGHES
Aircraft Model 369D
Aircraft Series Identifier 369D
Aircraft Serial Number 480306D
Certified Max Gross Weight 2100
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 61
Airframe Hours 1888
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TEMSCO HELICOPTERS, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 5057
Aircraft Owner City KETCHIKAN
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99901
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name TEMSCO HELICOPTERS, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 5057
Operator City KETCHIKAN
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99901
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City 35 W. OF KETCHI
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1930
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City 35 W. OF KETCHI
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
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 --