Rescue helicopter hits safety rope, nearly crashes into mountain

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH — An effort to recover the body of a woman in Utah nearly turned into a deadly catastrophe for the recovery team.

The Utah Department of Public Safety just released this video of a recovery in the mountains above Draper last September.

The team was on the mountain to remove the body of 43-year-old Kerry Crowley, who had fallen to her death while hiking.

The helicopter hovered near a cliff when its main rotor hits one of the volunteer's safety rope and caused the rope to snap off.

As the pilot lost control, the helicopter bounced off the side of the mountain.

The pilot eventually regained control of the copter and flew to a safe landing, but he says he feared the helicopter would crash.

Hours later-- another helicopter removed Crowley's body from the mountain without incident.

Officials say video of the incident will be used as a training tool to avoid similar situations in the future.

Cox Media Group