19900706024389A

Accident

FAA accident report · Bell 206B · San Antonio, TX · July 6, 1990

Date: July 6, 1990 · 07:00 local
Place: San Antonio, TX
Phase of flight: Hovering
Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
Aircraft: N3894L
NTSB investigation: NTSBFTW90LA133
Reported as: Bell 206B
Reported engine: Allison 250C20J
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 1

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.4)The helicopter was conducting a barehand live-line operation over the 345,000-volt energized power line, and was lowering the electrical lineworker/flight crewman toward the work area. The worker raised his arm which compromised the airgap, and resulted in a flashover and electrocution.

As the FAA filed it

(.4)THE HELICOPTER WAS CONDUCTING A BAREHAND LIVE-LINE OPERATION OVER THE 345,000-VOLT ENERGIZED POWER LINE, AND WAS LOWERING THE ELECTRICAL LINEWORKER/FLIGHT CREWMAN TOWARD THE WORK AREA. THE WORKER RAISED HIS ARM WHICH COMPROMISED THE AIRGAP, AND RESULTED IN A FLASHOVER AND ELECTROCUTION.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB FTW90LA133Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportSan Antonio, TXThe lineman/flight crewman not following procedures.Jul 6, 1990 · No damage