Garlick UH-1H accident near Clark Fork, ID
On June 21, 2002, a Garlick UH-1H (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Clark Fork, ID. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- June 21, 2002
- Place
- Clark Fork, ID
- Aircraft
- Garlick UH-1H · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 48.092°N, 116.153°W
- NTSB ID
- 20020626X00978
Official records · SEA02FA108
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 21, 2002, approximately 0515 Pacific daylight time, a Garlick UH-1H (originally manufactured by Bell Helicopter) restricted-category rotorcraft, N114DR, sustained substantial damage after colliding with wooded terrain approximately four miles southeast of Clark Fork, Idaho. The helicopter is owned by Northwest Helicopters of Olympia, Washington, and was being operated as an external-load (logging) flight operation under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 133. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant of the helicopter, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no FAA flight plan had been filed for the local flight. A witness to the accident, a certified airframe and power plant mechanic (A&P) who is employed by the operator, reported that the long-line logging operation had commenced approximately 15 minutes prior to the accident, at 0500 local. He reported that the pilot had just released the fifth load of logs for the morning and was maneuvering, in a turn, back up the hill. As the helicopter ascended, the witness heard what he described as a loud bang "…like a stick of dynamite going off." Concurrent with the loud bang, the witness stated that he observed pieces of the helicopter, reportedly from the area of the tail boom, flying through the air. The helicopter then yawed to the left, just before impacting terrain in a nose low attitude. The witness reported that the helicopter's engine continued to run, for approximately 20 seconds, after impacting terrain. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a commercial pilot certif
Probable cause
A failure of unknown origin in the tail rotor drive assembly. Factors include mountainous terrain unsuitable for an emergency landing.
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Browse: Idaho
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
