OAKRIDGE, OR, USA
N3128G
AEROSPATIALE SA315B
WHILE SLINGING A LOG THE PILOT ALLOWED THE LOG/SLING LINE TO CONTACT A TREE. THE MOMENTUM OF THE LOG AND HELICOPTER BOWED THE TREE OVER WHEN THE LINE CONTACTED IT. THE PILOT CHOSE TO RELEASE THE LOG FROM THE SLING LINE RATHER THAN DISENGAGE THE ENTIRE LINE AND LOG FROM THE HELICOPTER. ONCE THE LOG SEPARATED, THE LINE CAUGHT IN THE TREE WHICH RETURNED TO AN UPRIGHT ATTITUDE AND PULLED THE LINE TIGHT. THE FORCE APPLIED TO THE HELICOPTER AS THE LINE TIGHTENED, IN TURN ROTATED THE HELICOPTER ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS TO A POINT WHEREBY THE PILOT LOST CONTROL. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED INTO THE TREES AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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