PARK CITY, UT, USA
N62268
AEROSPATIALE SA316B
THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED ON AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION TO MOVE EQUIPMENT FROM THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN. A 100 FT CABLE WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE HELICOPTER WHEN WORKERS NEEDED TO BE TRANSPORTED UP THE HILL. WITNESSES REPORTED THE PILOT INITIATED A NORMAL TAKEOFF, INSTEAD OF A VERTICAL TAKEOFF, WHICH HE HAD BEEN USING WITH THE CABLE ATTACHED. DURING THE TAKEOFF, THE HOOK ON THE END OF THE CABLE SNAGGED ON AN EQUIPMENT TRAILER. THE HOOK BROKE FREE OF THE TRAILER AND THE CABLE REBOUNDED INTO THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. THE HELICOPTER THEN BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND CRASHED.
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAKE A VERTICAL TAKEOFF, WHILE DEPARTING WITH A CABLE ATTACHED, AND HIS FAILURE TO INSURE THE CABLE REMAINED CLEAR OF THE TRAILER. THE TRAILER (VEHICLE) WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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