On November 19, 1987, a Bell 206B III (registration N1073N) operated by Aero West Management Services was involved in an aviation accident near Albuquerque, NM. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to use the helicopter skid to retrieve a suspended object, which resulted in the aircraft becoming entangled with tree branches and impacting the ground. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A helicopter crashed after its skid shoe hooked under a parachute in a tree, lifting the aircraft and causing it to roll into branches and hit the ground.
What happened
The pilot was attempting to retrieve a parachute-retarded rocket that had come to rest in a tree. To accomplish this, the pilot maneuvered the helicopter so that the right front skid shoe hooked under the parachute. As the aircraft lifted the rocket approximately 6 feet into the air, the parachute remained caught in the tree branches. The tension caused the helicopter to swing into the lower branches of the tree. The aircraft then rolled to the right and impacted the ground in an approximate 45-degree nose-low attitude.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical condition of the helicopter following the impact. No specific mechanical failures were identified as contributing factors prior to the accident sequence described above.
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to use the helicopter skid to retrieve a suspended object, which resulted in the aircraft becoming entangled with tree branches and impacting the ground.
What happened in the 19 Nov 1987 Bell 206B III accident near Albuquerque, NM?
A helicopter crashed after its skid shoe hooked under a parachute in a tree, lifting the aircraft and causing it to roll into branches and hit the ground.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 19 Nov 1987 involved a Bell 206B III, registration N1073N, operated by Aero West Management Services, at Albuquerque, NM.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The pilot's decision to use the helicopter skid to retrieve a suspended object, which resulted in the aircraft becoming entangled with tree branches and impacting the ground.
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