Break Out Another Huey!

[SASless]

A UH-!H Huey operated by Northwest Helicopters in Olympia, Washington encountered some yet to be determined mechanical failure and make an emergency landing on the airfield very shortly after takeoff from the Company Heliport.

The Crew of two, Pilot and a Mechanic(Engineer), suffered minor injuries.

The helicopter was not so lucky.

It landed hard, broke off the tail boom midway between the attach point and the Synch Elevator.

Scratch an early arrival for a Fire Contract.


https://www.kiro7.com/video?videoId=756839817&videoVersion=1.0

[havick]

Was it logging prior?

[SASless]

Brian Reynolds, owner of Northwest Helicopters, stated in the video that he observed the Helicopter's Tail Rotor not turning and thus knew the aircraft was having a serious problem.

No idea whether this aircraft had a logging history....probably not and would have undergone a very rigorous overhaul had it done so.

Northwest only had three Huey Logging Aircraft when I left there a very long time ago.

[gulliBell]

Originally Posted by SASless

..It landed hard, broke off the tailbone midway between the attach point and the Synch Elevator.

I was going to say, bolt on another tailbone - whatever that is - and continue with the mission. Then I saw the video. It'll take more than a new tailbone to fix that one.

[SASless]

Tailbone is pprune auto spell's way of saying tail boom!

I fixed that a lot quicker than that Huey will get fixed.

[gulliBell]

No sign of the TRGB attached to the vertical fin. I guess it departed the scene before the tailbone got bent.

[SASless]

The Owner of the Company....a very experienced Pilot....stated in the Video....that he saw the Tail Rotor was not turning prior to the hard landing.

I shall accept his statement to be accurate.

As to when the TRGB departed will be determined by the NTSB Accident Investigation I assume.

Glad no one was seriously injured or killed in this....the Aircraft can be replaced.


https://www.king5.com/article/news/l.../281-558259259

[GrayHorizonsHeli]

well, you can see it laying in the grass not far away on the one video shot.
it clearly didn't get lost till the dance at the end.