Accident Garlick TH-1L (Bell 204) N27FL, Thursday 1 June 1995
ASN logo
 

Date:Thursday 1 June 1995
Time:09:05 LT
Type:Silhouette image of generic UH1 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Garlick TH-1L (Bell 204)
Owner/operator:Schuyler, Sid
Registration: N27FL
MSN: 6439
Year of manufacture:1969
Total airframe hrs:9492 hours
Engine model:Lycoming T53-13B
Fatalities:Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:0
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Category:Accident
Location:Umpqua, OR -   United States of America
Phase: Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:Unknown
Departure airport:Myrtle Creek, OR (16S
Destination airport:
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
WITNESSES SAW THE HELICOPTER STRIKE ITS TAIL ROTOR ON A TREE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LIFT A 3,000 POUND LOG SECTION USING A 150-FOOT LIFT LINE. THE TREE STRIKE DISABLED THE TAIL ROTOR, RESULTING IN LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE HELICOPTER SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED AT THE TOP OF A 150-FOOT-HIGH ROCK BLUFF, THEN SLID OFF THE BLUFF, COMING TO REST IN AN INVERTED ATTITUDE ON A 50 TO 60 PERCENT SLOPE ABOUT 250 FEET BELOW THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT.

Probable Cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE WITH A TREE, RESULTING IN A TAIL ROTOR BLADE STRIKE ON THE TREE WHICH DISABLED THE TAIL ROTOR. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE 150-FOOT-HIGH ROCK BLUFF.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: SEA95LA110
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 6 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB SEA95LA110

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
24-Oct-2008 10:30 ASN archive Added
26-Feb-2010 08:54 harro Updated [Aircraft type, Nature, ]
29-Jun-2014 17:41 TB Updated [Aircraft type, Source, Damage, ]
29-Jun-2014 18:03 TB Updated [Aircraft type, ]
21-Dec-2016 19:23 ASN Update Bot Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency, ]
09-Apr-2024 14:51 ASN Update Bot Updated [Time, Operator, Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report, ]

Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description

The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:

CONNECT WITH US: FSF on social media FSF Facebook FSF Twitter FSF Youtube FSF LinkedIn FSF Instagram

©2025 Flight Safety Foundation

1920 Ballenger Av, 4th Fl.
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
www.FlightSafety.org