20031014026219A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Bell 206B · Swisshome, OR · October 14, 2003

Date: October 14, 2003 · 10:45 local
Place: Swisshome, OR
Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: GJQA
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N86W
NTSB investigation: NTSBSEA04LA005
Reported as: Bell 206B
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2
Pilot’s flight hours: 17,500 total3,700 in this make and model27 in the last 90 days

N86WRegistration cancelled Apr 12, 2005 · Bell 206BS/N 4142 · Built 1991 Airframe modelBell 206B Engine modelAllison 250 SER 250HPTurbo-shaft

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.

(-23) At approximately 1045 local time N86W, a Bell 206-B helicopter struck overhead power lines which cross the siuslaw river and highway 36 while conducting aerial survey for Oregon dept. Of forestry. Resulting crash into river bed was fatal for both pilot and passenger/observer. Height of wires was approximately 250-300 feet above river. Of the four (4) wires crossing the river, the helicopter struck the lower-most which subsequently wrapped itself around the helicopter.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) AT APPROXIMATELY 1045 LOCAL TIME N86W, A BELL 206-B HELICOPTER STRUCK OVERHEAD POWER LINES WHICH CROSS THE SIUSLAW RIVER AND HIGHWAY 36 WHILE CONDUCTING AERIAL SURVEY FOR OREGON DEPT. OF FORESTRY. RESULTING CRASH INTO RIVER BED WAS FATAL FOR BOTH PILOT AND PASSENGER/OBSERVER. HEIGHT OF WIRES WAS APPROXIMATELY 250-300 FEET ABOVE RIVER. OF THE FOUR (4) WIRES CROSSING THE RIVER, THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE LOWER-MOST WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY WRAPPED ITSELF AROUND THE HELICOPTER.

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 SEA04LA005Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportSwisshome, ORThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines while maneuvering. The power line, mountainous terrain with high obstructions (thick trees and underbrush) and the operators failure to maintain a "hazard map" as indicated in their procedures manual…Oct 14, 2003 · Substantial damage