Southern Aero UH-1B accident near Skykomish, WA
On August 27, 1997, a Southern Aero UH-1B (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Skykomish, WA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- August 27, 1997
- Place
- Skykomish, WA
- Aircraft
- Southern Aero UH-1B · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 47.641°N, 121.330°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X08741
NTSB summary
***This report was modified on July 5, 2013. HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 27, 1997, approximately 0915 Pacific daylight time, a US Helicopter (formerly Southern Aero) UH-1B restricted-category former military helicopter, N896W, operated by Horizon Helicopters Inc. of Rancho Murieta, California, collided with terrain after experiencing a main rotor mast fracture while conducting a 14 CFR 133 external-load aerial logging operation in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest approximately 4 nautical miles north-northeast of Skykomish, Washington. The helicopter was substantially damaged in the accident, and the airline transport pilot, who was the helicopter's sole occupant, was fatally injured. The local flight had departed from a service landing near the accident scene. Visual meteorological conditions (with showers over the mountains) were being reported at Paine Field, Everett, Washington (approximately 38 nautical miles west of the accident site), and no flight plan had been filed. Logging ground crew members in the vicinity of the accident stated that the helicopter had been airborne for approximately 45 minutes at the time of the accident. The ground crew members reported that immediately prior to the accident, the pilot attempted to lift a load of two logs but that the load became hung up in trees. The pilot then released the load, and the ground crew subsequently started to reconnect the larger of the two logs to the helicopter's external load line. The witnesses then reported that they heard a loud "pop" and the engine RPM increasing, upon which the helicopter fell
Probable cause
A fatigue fracture in the main rotor mast, which resulted in an in flight separation of the main rotor from the helicopter. Contributing to the accident was insufficient Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness standards and requirements for the aircraft.
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Browse: Washington
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
