# Accident 19990922041079A: Bell 206L1, Randolph, NY, September 22, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 22, 1999, 14:15 local time
- Place: Randolph, NY
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.1605° N, 78.9698° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1605&lon=-78.9698&mi=10
- Aircraft: N17SP, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N17SP-2000-06-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 (registry code 1182107, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC99GA234](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99GA234) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990922041079A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON 9/23/99 HELICOPTER N17SP (BHT 206 L1) PILOTED BY SCOTT NORCUTT MADE CONTACT WITH A HIGH TENSION POWER LINE APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND NEAR THE VACINITY OF RANDOLPH, NY. THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT WAS MADE BY THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. THE BLADES SEPARATED FROM THE HELICOPTER STRIKING THE TAIL BOOM IN NUMEROUS PLACES. THE FUSELAGE IMPACTED THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 275 FEET FROM THE WIRES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TRAVELING FROM THE SOUTH EAST TO THE WEST. THE CREW MEMBER STATED THAT THEY WERE FLYING INTO THE SUN AND DID NOT SEE THE WIRES UNTIL THEY MADE CONTACT. THIS ITEM IS CLOSED.

## 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 NYC99GA234](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99GA234), Sep 22, 1999: Bell 206L-1 (N17SP), Randolph, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain visual separation from the wires. A factor was sunglare.

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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