Bell UH-1H accident near Kahoolawe, HI
On May 22, 2003, a Bell UH-1H (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Kahoolawe, HI. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 22, 2003
- Place
- Kahoolawe, HI
- Aircraft
- Bell UH-1H · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 20.570°N, 156.633°W
- NTSB ID
- 20030630X00972
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 22, 2003, at 1150 Hawaiian standard time, a Bell UH-1H single-engine helicopter, N3280U, was destroyed following an in-flight breakup after its 41-foot external load cable became entangled with its tail rotor over the island of Kahoolawe, Hawaii. The helicopter was registered to Pacific Helicopter Services LLC, of Kahului, Hawaii, and operated by Pacific Helicopter Tours, Inc., of Kahului. The commercial helicopter pilot, who was the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The flight was operated under the provisions of CFR Part 133 Rotorcraft - External Loads. The flight departed a landing zone (LZ) on Kahoolawe approximately 5 minutes prior to the accident, and was destined for Puunene, on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan was not filed. According to the operator, the pilot had conducted three external load transports earlier that day between Puunene and Kahoolawe, with the last one being a 3,000-pound fuel pod via its 41-foot external load line. The pilot dropped off the fuel pod at LZ Squid and departed with the 41-foot line still attached. One witness, located on the island of Kahoolawe, indicated he heard the helicopter fly overhead and looked up. He observed the helicopter with an "unweighted cable swinging free under the aircraft." The witness saw the cable "slap the undercarriage one time before the cable impacted the tail rotor." He then observed the tail rotor coming apart. The witnessed looked away from the helicopter shortly (due to unstable footing) and when
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to remove the external load cable before the repositioning flight, which resulted in the cable striking the tail rotor in cruise flight.
More accidents in HI
- Beech 65-A90, Jun 22, 2019
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- Beech E18S, Apr 23, 1992
- Piper PA-31-350, Dec 24, 1987
Browse: Hawaii · Bell aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
