NTSB Factual Report

On February 7, 2003, at 0909 mountain standard time, an Aerospatiale AS-350BII helicopter, CFLHA, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain following loss of in flight control near Vernal, Utah. The commercial pilot and his passenger were seriously injured. Abitibi Helicopters, of La Sarre, Quebec (Canada), was operating the aircraft under Title 14 CFR Part 133. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight that was originating at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed.

The Canadian pilot had been conducting geophysical operations. The pilot stated that he and his engineer [A&P mechanic] had been performing mechanical tests on the aircraft. After refueling the aircraft, they hooked up a long line and performed an out of ground effect flight test. They landed at the main staging area. The pilot said that he forgot that the longline was attached, and performed a normal takeoff to the north. The pilot reported feeling a jerk at about 25 feet above the ground (forward speed 10 to 20 knots), and then a loud bang. Subsequently, he lost anti-torque control of the aircraft. The helicopter came to rest listing towards its right side,

Postaccident examination revealed the long line was entangled in the tail rotor assembly. Further examination revealed that the tail rotor drive had separated, the right landing skid was broken, the fuselage and tail boom were distorted, and the fuel cell was compromised.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate planning resulting in his inattentiveness of the attached longline. Contributing factors were the entanglement of the longline in the tail rotor, failure of the tail rotor drive shaft, and subsequent inability of the pilot to control the aircraft.