King County, July 19, 2016 - Mt. Adams, Yakima County, Washington - The King County Sheriff’s Office Guardian 2 helicopter was damaged Sunday when it struck a rock outcropping on Mt. Adams in Yakima County.
Two occupants received minor strains as a result of the incident and one of the two skids on the bottom of the helicopter was damaged.
Guardian 2 was assisting the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office with the search for a hiker who had fallen.
Preliminarily it appears that the tail rotor was unable to move enough air to counteract the centrifugal force of the main rotor. This caused the aircraft to rotate about 1½ times.
The incident occurred during a search and rescue mission at around 8000 feet.
The general airworthiness of the helicopter was not affected and the pilot flew to a nearby airport in Yakima.
The Sheriff’s Office notified the FAA as well as the NTSB who are conducting an investigation.
The helicopter is a 1970 UH-1H Huey that was recently rebuilt.
Two occupants received minor strains as a result of the incident and one of the two skids on the bottom of the helicopter was damaged.
Guardian 2 was assisting the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office with the search for a hiker who had fallen.
Preliminarily it appears that the tail rotor was unable to move enough air to counteract the centrifugal force of the main rotor. This caused the aircraft to rotate about 1½ times.
The incident occurred during a search and rescue mission at around 8000 feet.
The general airworthiness of the helicopter was not affected and the pilot flew to a nearby airport in Yakima.
The Sheriff’s Office notified the FAA as well as the NTSB who are conducting an investigation.
The helicopter is a 1970 UH-1H Huey that was recently rebuilt.
UH-1H Iroquois N71KP ( State of Washington )
See also |
KCSO King County Sheriff Office State of Washington