Accident · 2006-08-19

NTSB case SEA06CA165 · Bell 407 · Part 133

What the record says

Event date: 2006-08-19
Event type: Accident
Highest injury level: No injuries
Aircraft: Bell 407 (N407SH)
Operating rule: Part 133
Operator: Silver State Helicopters LLC Operator named in NTSB report
Operated by (per NTSB report): Silver State Helicopters

Probable cause

The pilot inadvertently allowing the helicopter to enter into a vortex ring state (settling with power) condition while he was lowering a long-line load to the ground, resulting in the helicopter settling to the ground and its tail rotor impacting part of the rigging used to haul the load. Factors include the long-line load and its rigging sitting on the ground at the point where the helicopter settled to the terrain.

Source: NTSB case SEA06CA165

Flight crew

Flight-crew details for this event aren't in the NTSB database extract we hold (its coverage starts with 2008 events) — a gap in our data, not an absence of crew.

Facts as the NTSB records them — GroundCheck adds no judgement. Preliminary records may be revised as the investigation proceeds.

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