Sikorsky S61A accident near Wrangell, Alaska, August 11, 2001
On August 11, 2001 at about 7:50 pm local time, a Sikorsky S61A (helicopter), registered N5193Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wrangell, Alaska. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The separation of a steel long line cable that failed and rebounded from a load of logs into the helicopter's main and tail rotors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 2001 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- Wrangell, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S61A · all S61As on the register
- Registration
- N5193Y · registry record · serial 61184
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The operator of the helicopter logging operation reported that a steel long line cable failed while the flight crew was setting a load of logs down. The long line rebounded into the main and tail rotor blades, causing substantial damage to both sets of blades. The flight crew was able to make an immediate and successful emergency landing without further damaging the helicopter.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,830 hours in all; 6,094 in this make and model; 274 in the last 90 days; 87 in the last 30 days; 11,000 as pilot in command; 50 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 10, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,600 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 350 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command; 900 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 12, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Crew member
No details recorded.
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,310 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 10, 2001; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 22,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: General Electric CT58-140-1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Wrangell AK
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.