# Accident 19961129036939A: Bell 206A, Mcgregor Point, HI, November 29, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 29, 1996, 13:30 local time
- Place: Mcgregor Point, HI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 20.8802° N, 156.4992° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=20.8802&lon=-156.4992&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6262N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6262N-1997-02-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206A (registry code 1181508, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206A
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 5,198 total, 117 in this make and model, 182 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX97LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA057) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961129036939A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

HELICOPTER WAS INSTALLING WIRES ON POWER POLES, STRUCK WIRES WITH ROTOR AND CRASHED. (.4)THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATING IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN ASSISTING IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF POWER LINES. THE HELICOPTER WAS POSITIONING THE PASSENGER NEAR THE CONDUCTOR LINES IN PREPARATION FOR A LINE-PULL.  THE PASSENGER WAS SITTING BEHIND THE PILOT IN THE REAR SEAT.  THE PASSENGER WOULD PHYSICALLY KICK THE TRAVELERS INTO THE PROPER POSITION AT THE TOP OF THE 80-FOOT METAL POLE IN PREPARATION FOR A LINE PULL TO ESTABLISH PROPER TENSION.  ACCORDING TO THE WITNESSES, THE HELICOPTER WAS APPROACHING POLE NUMBER 89 FROM THE UPWIND SIDE TO STRAIGHTEN THE TRAVELER.  AS THEY ALIGNED THE TRAVELER AND MOVED AWAY, THE ROTOR WASH COCKED THE TRAVELER OFF-LINE AGAIN.  THE HELICOPTER REAPPROACHED THE POLE AT A SPEED HIGHER THAN BEFORE.  THE HELICOPTER SKID CONTACTED THE POLE 2 FEET BELOW THE TOP AND THE HELICOPTER DYNAMICALLY ROLLED OVER THE TOP OF THE POLE.  THE POLE ENTERED THE PILOT'S DOORWAY.  THE PILOT RELEASED ALL CONTROLS AND BRACED HIMSELF AGAINST THE POLE DURING THE MANEUVER.  THE HELICOPTER SEVERED THREE MAIN CONDUCTORS BEFORE COLLIDING WITH                                                                  THE GROUND. (.19) ON NOVEMBER 29, 1996, AT 1330 HOURS HAWAIIAN STANDARD TIME, A BELL 206B, N6262N, OPERATED BY PACIFIC HELICOPTER TOURS, INC., OF KAHULUI, HAWAII, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED NEAR MCGREGOR POINT, MAUI, HAWAII, DURING A POWER LINE REPAIR PROJECT. THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE OPERATION AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED AN 80-FOOT-TALL POWER POLE WITH THE RIGHT SKID. THE HELICOPTER DYNAMICALLY ROLLED OVER THE TOP OF THE POLE AND COLLIDED WITH THREE MAIN CONDUCTORS AND THEN THE GROUND.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX97LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA057), Nov 29, 1996: Bell 206B (N6262N), Mcgregor Point, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft and distance from the pole.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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