# Accident 20020627013869A: Bell 206B, Raton, NM, June 27, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 27, 2002, 07:58 local time
- Place: Raton, NM
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.8258° N, 104.9083° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8258&lon=-104.9083&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2779B, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2779B-2005-03-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206B (registry code 1181511, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C20 series (registry code 03020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN02FA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02FA065) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020627013869A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON JUNE 27, 2002, AT 0758 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME, A BELL 206BIII HELICOPTER, N2779B, WAS DESTROYED FOLLOWING IMPACT WITH TRANSMISSION LINES WHILE MANEUVERING NEAR RATON, NEW MEXICO. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER WERE FATALLY INJURED. AERO WEST HELICOPTERS FROM ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, WAS OPERATING THE HELICOPTER UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT THAT ORIGINATED FROM RATON, NEW MEXICO, APPROXIMATELY 55 MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. A FLIGHT PLAN HAD NOT BEEN FILED. THE HELICOPTER WAS ON CONTRACT TO MONITOR TRANSMISSION LINES FOR POSSIBLE MAINTENANCE NEEDS. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE HELICOPTER EXPLODE AT THE JUNCTION OF TWO MAIN WIRE SYSTEMS. (-23) ON JUNE 27, 2002, AT 0750 MDT, A BELL 206, N2779B, REGISTERED TO MSI HELICOPTERS LEASING INC., COLLIDED WITH AN ELECTRIAL POWERLINE 21 NM NORTHWEST OF THE RATON, NM. AIRPORT, WHILE PERFORMING A POWERLINE INSPECTION. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED, AND THE CERTIFICATED PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE FATALLY INJURED, THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT RATON MUNICIPAL/CREWS AIRPORT, RATON, NEW MEXICO ON JUNE                       27, AT 0700 EST.

## 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 DEN02FA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02FA065), Jun 27, 2002: Bell 206BIII (N2779B), Raton, NM, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance of the static wire. Factors were the static wire, and the glaring sunlight condition.

## Other reports on N2779B (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19940327006799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940327006799A), Mar 27, 1994: Bell 206B (N2779B), Belen, NM, Substantial damage. Lost power en route. Made hard landing. Damaged skids. Fuselage. Rotors chopped off tailboom P3 line leaking.

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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