Kaman K-1200 accident near West Fork, OR
On May 12, 2004, a Kaman K-1200 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near West Fork, OR. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- May 12, 2004
- Place
- West Fork, OR
- Aircraft
- Kaman K-1200 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 42.789°N, 123.704°W
- NTSB ID
- 20040514X00605
NTSB summary
On May 12, 2004, approximately 0755 Pacific daylight time, a Kaman K-1200 helicopter, N162KA, under pending registration, operated by Superior helicopter LLC, and being flown by a commercial pilot, was destroyed during collision with trees and terrain while engaged in logging operations approximately five nautical miles southwest of West Fork, Oregon. The pilot sustained fatal injuries and there was no post crash fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was operated under 14CFR133 and had originated from a staging site nearby shortly before the accident. Several ground crew personnel working at the accident site reported that the pilot was engaged in logging utilizing a 200-foot long line. One witness reported that the pilot of the K-1200 descended to a hover to pick up a log when the witness reported hearing "...the rotor system slapping limbs...." He looked up and saw the K-1200's right rotor in the treetops and then observed tree fragments flying through the air. The rotorcraft then rolled inverted and descended to the ground. The other witness heard a blade strike, looked up and observed fragments of tree and rotor blades flying. He saw the rotorcraft begin to roll away from the tree into a nose down attitude and then impact the terrain (refer to attached statements). On site examination by inspectors assigned to the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Hillsboro Flight Standards District Office revealed that with a 200-foot long line the helicopter was operating at or near the treetops in the heavily wooded steep
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance with trees during logging operations. Contributing factors were the trees, mountainous (steeply sloped) terrain, and the pilot's decision to conduct operations in this terrain with a 200 foot long line.
More accidents in OR
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Browse: Oregon
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
