Bell HH-1H accident near Mount Charleston, NV
On July 23, 2013, a Bell HH-1H (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Mount Charleston, NV. 1 person died.
- Date
- July 23, 2013
- Place
- Mount Charleston, NV
- Aircraft
- Bell HH-1H · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- —
- Position
- 36.278°N, 115.671°W
- NTSB ID
- 20130723X70214
Official records · WPR13GA338
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 22, 2013, about 2220 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a rescue officer was fatally injured during a rescue hoist operation from a Bell HH-1H helicopter, N233JP, near Mount Charleston, Nevada. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) was operating the helicopter as a public-use aircraft flight. The flight crew consisted of two commercial pilots and three crewmen: a crew chief/hoist operator; and two rescue officers. The helicopter sustained no damage. The local flight departed North Las Vegas, Nevada, about 2150. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. According to the operator, the mission was to rescue a stranded hiker from the side of a mountain. During the hoist back to the helicopter, the rescue officer fell and was fatally injured. The civilian hiker was recovered to the helicopter via the hoist without injury. The hiker reported that while hiking in the area of Mount Charleston, he became trapped on a rock outcropping. He contacted the 911 operator using his cell phone, and was told that LVMPD would send help and to remain where he was. The hiker reported that once the rescue helicopter arrived, he watched as the rescuer was lowered. After the rescuer landed on the outcropping, the hiker was directed to remain in a crouched position as the rescuer put him into the harness. The hiker stated that the rescuer was moving very purposefully and his actions appeared very deliberate. He noted that the rescuer remained attached to the hoist hook while the hiker was put into the harness. The rescuer then
Probable cause
The premature hoisting operation and the inadvertent disengagement of the hoist hook on the rescuer’s harness in dark night conditions. Contributing to the accident was a lack of direct audio communication between the rescuer and the hoist operator.
More accidents in NV
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Browse: Nevada · 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.
