Incident Overview
A helicopter configured with a 100-foot long line and an aluminum basket (4 feet by 5 feet by 3 feet) was being used to transport seismic equipment. The pilot arrived at a loading zone and began daily flight operations, accumulating approximately 2 hours of flight time that day.
Flight and Repositioning
After completing the day's activities, the helicopter was scheduled to be repositioned to a different loading zone where mechanics were to perform maintenance checks before the next day's flights.
Takeoff and Accident
The pilot initiated takeoff without first checking the belly hook for the external line. He later stated that he had forgotten the long line and basket were still attached to the helicopter. During the takeoff climb, when the helicopter reached an altitude of about 50 to 60 feet above ground level, the basket became hung on a fence. This caused the helicopter to be pulled downward to the ground, where it came to rest on its right side.
Damage and Equipment
The accident resulted in damage to the main rotors and drive train. The pilot was wearing a helmet at the time. The helicopter's fuel system was equipped with spill-safe fittings.
Investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's failure to verify the removal of the external load before takeoff. No other causal factors were identified in the source material.