ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 264057
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| Date: | Tuesday 15 June 2021 |
| Time: | 17:00 LT |
| Type: |  Bell UH-1H |
| Owner/operator: | U.S. Forest Service |
| Registration: | N398M |
| MSN: | 65-09984 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1965 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 14620 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming T53-L-703 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Townsend, Broadwater County, MT -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Fire fighting |
| Departure airport: | Helena, MT |
| Townsend Helispot, MT | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot reported that, during the approach to the landing area, he made visual contact with the airport manager who cleared him to land on the west end of the pull-off tarmac. The pilot noted evidence of wind from the blowing willows from south-west. He initiated a left downwind approach, and upon turning from base to final at 500 ft above ground level, the helicopter started to settle with power and the pilot experienced a nearly direct tailwind. Due to the approach speed and proximity to the ground, the pilot was unable to fly out, so he leveled the helicopter and committed to landing. The helicopter touched down hard, spun right about 120° and rolled left upside down. The helicopter was destroyed by impact forces and postaccident fire. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control after an encounter with settling with power during approach at an altitude that was too low for recovery, which resulted in a hard landing.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB WPR21LA236
FAA register: https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N398M
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 16-Jun-2021 05:02 | Geno | Added |
| 16-Jun-2021 12:59 | RobertMB | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 18-Jun-2021 08:52 | Anon. | Updated [Total occupants, Narrative] |
| 22-Jun-2021 09:11 | RobertMB | Updated [Location, Narrative] |
| 01-May-2022 08:40 | Ron Averes | Updated [Operator] |
| 04-Jul-2022 12:34 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Cn, Operator, Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
| 12-Nov-2022 01:24 | Ron Averes | Updated [Operator, Source, Narrative] |
| 30-May-2023 01:03 | Ron Averes | Updated [[Operator, Source, Narrative]] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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