Pilot Debrief

MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELI CO 369FF near Reese, MI — 2013-08-22

Final reportCEN13CA501
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Date
2013-08-22
Location
Reese, MI, USA
Aircraft
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELI CO 369FF
Registration
N975BW
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The failure of the temporary hoist holding the powerline wire which resulted in a brief loss of control and main rotor blade impacts with the tower.

NTSB narrative

The helicopter was conducting an electrical power line construction operation with a lineman standing outside on the skid. The wire was temporarily suspended by a hoist and the lineman was inserting a fiber shoe to attach the wire to the arm of the tower. While the helicopter was hovering next to the wire at about 200 feet above ground level the hoist slipped and the wire fell onto the top of the helicopter's skid. Control was briefly lost and four of the helicopter's main rotor blades impacted the tower resulting in substantial damage to the main rotor blades. The pilot quickly regained control and made an emergency landing in tall corn about 200 feet from the accident location.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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