Homer Alaska - News -

Photo courtesy of Alaska State Troopers The wreckage of a Bell 206 Long Ranger helicopter lies at its Caribou Hills crash site Sept. 25.

Farish, 64, is a pilot for Maritime Helicopters in Homer and was at the time doing contract work for Homer Electric Association. Two HEA employees were on the scene when Farish took off attempting to transport ladders with the helicopter.

Moments after lifting off, the tail rotor struck a power line and sent the craft spinning into the air and then plummeting to the ground. HEA employees were able to extricate Farish from the helicopter and, by the time Browning arrived on the scene, they had him propped up against a tree and wrapped in a blanket.

"It was a gnarly wreck," said Browning. "The fuel pod exploded. It was amazing the thing didn't catch fire. There was fuel everywhere and a downed power line. The helicopter was in about a thousand pieces."

Farish was transported to South Peninsula Hospital aboard a LifeGuard Alaska BK-117 helicopter that arrived from Soldotna. He did not appear to have life-threatening injuries, according to Browning.

"He was actually in decent shape," said Browning. "He was smiling. He said his back hurt but that was about it."

Browning said pilot error was the likely cause of the accident.

"I think he just misjudged where the power line was. He recognized that he made a mistake," said Browning.

Farish is an experienced pilot, said Howard Reed, director of operations for Maritime Helicopters, and has been flying for the company for eight years.

"He flew in Vietnam, so he's been doing this for at least 35 years," said Reed.

Reed said the crash, the company's first in more than 10 years, had the possibility to be much worse than it was.

"An explosion certainly was possible," said Reed. "These helicopters use Jet-A diesel. The flash point is pretty high but a power line would certainly do it."

By Friday afternoon, the wreckage of the helicopter had already been picked up and turned over to Maritime Helicopters' insurance company, said Reed.

HEA Administrative Services Director Duane Parlow said no one lost power as a result of the accident and HEA crews were working Friday to repair the severed line.

Parlow and Reed both said they were unaware of the fuel spill witnessed by Browning. Parlow said any fuel spill at the crash site would be the responsibility of Maritime Helicopters.

Parlow said HEA has contracted with Maritime Helicopters for many years and would continue to do so.

"I think that HEA still holds Maritime in high regard. They are a very reputable and experience carrier. We certainly intend to utilize their services in the future," he said.

Aaron Selbig can be reached at aaron.selbig@homernews.com.