N41699

On October 1, 1993, at 0900 mountain daylight time, a Bell 204-B helicopter, N41699, jettisoned an external load while maneuvering near Cedar Crest, New Mexico, resulting in serious injuries to a ground worker. The helicopter was operating under visual meteorological conditions. Idaho Helicopters was the operator.

The pilot reported, in his written report, and during an interview conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, that he was setting a pole between two existing telephone poles when he determined he could not put it in place. He reported that he attempted to place the pole in the hole three times before he maneuvered to a designated release area so that he could jettison the load.

The pilot and other witnesses reported that a ground worker entered the designated release area to retrieve a tool after the load was jettisoned. Witnesses reported that when the telephone pole was jettisoned it struck the ground and bounced into the worker.