Incident Details
A helicopter was performing a sling load operation with a 50-foot cable attached. After moving the last sling load to a new drilling site, the pilot decided to keep the cable attached because no suitable landing area was nearby. The pilot later stated that the cable was trailing nicely as the helicopter descended down a 1,500-foot bluff above the main camp.
Sequence of Events
During the descent, as the pilot reduced the rate of descent and forward velocity and applied power, the cable became engaged in the tail rotor. This led to a loss of effective control of the helicopter. Subsequently, the pilot was unable to maintain controlled flight, and the helicopter crashed on a rocky beach.
Aftermath
Following the crash, the tail rotor and tail rotor gear box were found approximately 100 feet from the main wreckage of the helicopter.