Bell 212 accident near Willow Creek, California, July 21, 2009
On July 21, 2009 at about 5:10 pm local time, a Bell 212 (helicopter), registered N212HP, was involved in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Willow Creek, California (Willow Creek Helibase airport). It was a public-use flight (federal) under public-use (government) rules. 1 person was killed; 5 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The rappeller's failure to properly latch the rappelling harness to the rappelling assembly before exiting the helicopter.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 2009 · about 5:10 pm local time
- Place
- Willow Creek, California · Willow Creek Helibase · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 5 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 212 · all 212s on the register
- Registration
- N212HP · registry record · serial 30951
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Public-use flight (federal) · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The purpose of the flight was to conduct proficiency rappel training. During a preflight equipment check, one of the rappellers identified a broken "Kong" clip on the Tri-link/J-hook interface on the harness. He replaced the Kong clip with a rubber O-ring (an authorized substitution) and then he returned to the helicopter. Minutes later, with the helicopter in a stabilized hover, witnesses on the ground reported that they observed the rappeller transition from inside the helicopter to the port side skid, then fall down the rope at excessive speed. Postaccident examination of the rope and harness assembly revealed that the rappeller's J-hook was attached to the Sky Genie and rope; however, the J-hook was not attached to the Tri-link and harness. A broken O-ring, believed to be the O-ring used to center the Tri-link and J-hook, was found on the ground approximately 30 feet from where the harness assembly was located. Evidence obtained during the investigation suggests that the rappeller's Tri-link and J-hook were not mechanically linked (prior to the rappeller transitioning to the skid), but rather inadvertently linked together with a non load-bearing O-ring used to center the latching devices. Examination of the J-hook, Sky Genie, Tri-link and harness by investigators from the US Forest Service revealed no evidence of malfunction or defect.
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
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during maneuvering (hover) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Passenger
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › (general) › Passenger
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,200 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 6,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 5, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,829 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 17, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 11,200 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: P&W PT6 SERIES (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: P&W PT6 SERIES (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Willow Creek CA at 5:04 pm
- Destination: PVT Willow Creek CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 5 |
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.