# Accident 20040817017809A: Bell 206B, Mead, WA, August 17, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 17, 2004, 09:45 local time
- Place: Mead, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.7889° N, 117.3494° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.7889&lon=-117.3494&mi=10
- Aircraft: N34698, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N34698-2012-11-14) (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: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 20,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA04TA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04TA163) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040817017809A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT WAS PULLING A NYLON ROPE USED IN THE STRINGING OF POWER LINES. THE REEL OPERATOR WAS PAYING OUT THE PULLING ROPE THAT WAS CONNECTED TO THE HELICOPTER. THE OPERATOR STATED THAT THE ROPE SUDDENLY WRAPPED OVER ANOTHER ROPE OR PULLED DOWN IN THE DRUM CAUSING THE ROPE TO REVERSE ON THE DRUM. HE INSTANTLY STOPPED THE PULL AND CALLED ON THE RADIO TO HOLD THE PULL. AS HE LOOKED UP, HE SAW THE HELICOPTER COMING DOWN. THE HELICOPTER FELL FROM APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET, COMING TO REST ON IT'S RIGHT SIDE. THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF CONTROL UPSET. WHEN THE DRUM STOPPED UNREELING, THIS CAUSED A TETHERED SITUATION OF THE HELICOPTER TO THE GROUND. THE PILOT COULD NOT REACT QUICKLY ENOUGH TO RELEASE THE LINE BEFORE THE HELICOPTER EXCEEDED IT'S CONTROL LIMITS.

## 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 SEA04TA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04TA163), Aug 17, 2004: Bell 206B (N34698), Mead, WA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The reversal of the reel machine during a sock line pull which resulted in a loss of control while hovering out of ground effect. Factors were the failure of company management to develop adequate…

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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