Bell UH-1F accident near Concrete, Washington, June 26, 2012
On June 26, 2012 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Bell UH-1F (helicopter), registered N4582D, was involved in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Concrete, Washington. It was an external-load flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Arcing of an energized electrical power line to the external long line and the conduct of electrical energy to ground personnel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 2012 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Concrete, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell UH-1F · all UH-1Fs on the register
- Registration
- N4582D · registry record · serial 63-13163
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- External-load flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The operator reported that the pilot was positioning a concrete bucket as an external load attached to a long line. At the end of the long line was a remote hook that was activated electrically from the cockpit. The pilot maneuvered the concrete bucket to the work location, which placed the long line 15-20 feet from a known energized power line. The energized electrical power line arced to the long line, and electrical energy was conducted down the remote hook circuit to the bucket, seriously injuring a construction worker who was ground handling the bucket.
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
- External load event (Rotorcraft) during maneuvering (hover) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Effect on equipment
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 24,926 hours in all; 6,180 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 22,445 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 20, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,808 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 18, 2012
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T53-L-13 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K3W5 Concrete WA at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; ovct
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:15 pm from KVBS, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.