Garlick UH-1H accident near Liberty, Washington, February 23, 2004
On February 23, 2004 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Garlick UH-1H (helicopter), registered N6257P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Liberty, Washington. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the tail rotor slider lugs due to fatigue while the helicopter was maneuvering.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 2004 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Liberty, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Garlick UH-1H
- Registration
- N6257P · registry record · serial 63-8807
- 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 pilot was conducting a long-line logging operation in a restricted category helicopter. During the second logging cycle of the day, which included fifty turns, the pilot was setting a load of logs down when he heard a loud bang from the rear of the helicopter. The aircraft began spinning to the left, and after the second turn the pilot chopped the throttle in an attempt to land between the loading deck and the loader. The helicopter landed hard and flat, resulting in the aircraft's main rotor blades striking the log deck and the loader, ripping out the helicopter's transmission. During an inspection of the aircraft wreckage it was observed that both of the tail rotor slider's lugs were fractured where they become tangent to the slider barrel. A subsequent examination of the tail rotor slider assembly revealed that the slider lugs had failed due to fatigue. The fatigue origin was determined to be rough machining marks.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 13,435 hours in all; 1,800 in this make and model; 162 in the last 90 days; 58 in the last 30 days; 10,000 as pilot in command; 200 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 3, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme
- Maximum gross weight: 9,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T-53 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Liberty WA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: Liberty WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft; a few clouds
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.