Garlick OH-58AT N444JB

Summary

On 14 September 2002 at about 15:45 local time, a Garlick OH-58AT registered N444JB, operated by JOE Brigham Inc, was involved in an accident near Rochester, Massachusetts, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 September 2002 at 15:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Rochester, Massachusetts, United States

Nearest airport

Rochester

Coordinates

42.2295, -71.5302

Aircraft

Garlick OH-58AT

Registration

N444JB

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

JOE Brigham Inc

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Carver → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD02LA094

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to center the sling load prior to commencing forward flight. Also causal, was the pilot's improper decision to attempt a takeoff with a quartering tailwind, which resulted in an engine compressor stall.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot made numerous successful lifts into the wind, with similar cranberry loads. The accident occurred during the first lift attempt at a new location. The helicopter was hovering about 12 feet above the ground, forward of the load and with a left quartering tailwind, while the ground crew secured a 900-pound cargo basket to a 15-foot sling load line. Once the load was secured, the helicopter flew forward and dragged the cargo basket. There was a "large pop" sound, and a foot-long flame exited the left exhaust pipe. The cargo basket was dragged into a ditch and the pilot jettisoned the load. After the load was released, the helicopter pitched up, the main rotor blades severed the tail boom, and the main rotor assembly separated from the helicopter. The helicopter fell to the ground and rolled over, onto its left side. Examination of the main rotor assembly revealed that it had separated from the main rotor mast below the contact areas for the static stops. There were no obstructions that would have impeded the pilot from departing into the wind.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.