# Accident 19980821021509A: Bell 206B, Salinas, CA, August 21, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 21, 1998, 06:30 local time
- Place: Salinas, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Running(Helicopter/Vtol Ac)
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: LSMG
- Location: 36.6902° N, 121.6338° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Salinas, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6902&lon=-121.6338&mi=10
- Aircraft: N223HA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 9,763 total, 2,430 in this make and model, 78 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98LA273](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA273) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980821021509A

## Narrative

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

ON AUGUST 21, 1998, AT 0630 HOURS PDT, A BELL 206B, N223HA ENTANGLED A SKID IN AN IRRIGATION PIPE UPON TAKEOFF AFTER REFUELING AND RELOADING FROM AN AGRICULTURE SPRAY OPERATION. THE ENTANGLED SKID CAUSED THE HELICOPTER TO ROLL OVER. THIS ROLL OVER OCCURRED ABOUT 15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SALINAS, CA. THE PILOT LIFTED OFF, BUT DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE IRRIGATION PIPE IN FRONT OF HIM. (.4) THE PILOT LIFTED OFF FROM THE FUEL TRUCK, BUT DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE IRRIGATION PIPE IN FRONT OF HIM. THE SKIDS BECAME ENTANGLED WITH THE PIPE AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE HELICOPTER PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, BUT HAD JUST MISJUDGED THE CLEARANCE WITH THE PIPE.

## 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 LAX98LA273](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA273), Aug 21, 1998: Bell 206B (N223HA), Salinas, CA, destroyed. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to maintain clearance with the irrigation pipes which resulted in the entanglement of the skids and the subsequent rollover.

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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