Casualties unknown

1996-01-12: Bell 47-G5 (N1309X) — Pope Valley, CA

Pope Valley, CA, US

On January 12, 1996, a Bell 47-G5 (registration N1309X) was involved in an aviation accident near Pope Valley, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance between the external load cables and ground obstacles during departure, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and crash. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

A helicopter crashed after its external load bucket became entangled with a ground vehicle during departure, resulting in an uncontrolled descent.

What happened

The pilot was conducting operations involving the use of an external load device, specifically a broadcaster or bucket, which required reloading on the ground. The aircraft hovered over a designated loading platform to facilitate this process. The pilot carefully lowered the broadcaster onto the platform so that the ground crew could complete the loading procedure.

Once the ground crew finished loading the equipment, the pilot maneuvered the helicopter to orient it for departure. As the aircraft began to move away from the loading area, the cables connecting the helicopter to the external load became entangled with a nearby truck on the ground. This entanglement caused the helicopter to lose control and descend rapidly.

The aircraft crashed in an uncontrolled manner following the loss of lift and stability caused by the cable snag. The incident occurred during the departure phase of the flight, immediately after the completion of the ground-based reloading task.

The investigation

Investigation into the mechanical aspects of the event focused on the interaction between the helicopter's external load system and the ground environment. Examination revealed that the primary issue was not a mechanical failure of the helicopter itself, but rather the physical entanglement of the load cables with stationary ground equipment.

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance between the external load cables and ground obstacles during departure, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and crash.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001208X05161. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.