# Accident 20050310003169A: Bell 206B, Center, TX, March 10, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 10, 2005, 14:00 local time
- Place: Center, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: BRNA
- Location: 31.7511° N, 94.0006° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7511&lon=-94.0006&mi=10
- Aircraft: N85BH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N85BH-2014-02-07) (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
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Pilot flight hours: 2,187 total, 116 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DFW05FA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05FA086) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050310003169A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON MARCH 10, 2005, APPROXIMATELY 1354 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, A BELL 206B-III HELICOPTER, N85BH, SERIAL NUMBER 3792, WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT IMPACTED HEAVILY WOODED TERRAIN IN THE SABINE NATIONAL FOREST NEAR SHELBYVILLE, TEXAS. THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE FATALLY INJURED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED BY BRAINERD HELICOPTERS, INC. (BRNA) FOR A U.S. FORESTRY SERVICE CONTRACT. THE HELICOPTER WAS ASSIGNED TO SUPPORT A PRESCRIBED FIRE WITHIN HEAVILY WOODED TERRAIN WITH 50-60 FOOT HIGH TREES NEAR SHELBYVILLE, TEXAS. ACCORDING TO USFS DISPATCH RECORDS, AT 1352, THE MISSION IGNITION SPECIALIST ONBOARD THE AIRCRAFT REPORTED BY RADIO THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS COMMENCING FIRING OPERATIONS. AT 1354, A RADIO DISTRESS CALL WAS HEARD BY DISPATCH. THE CALL WAS, "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, WE ARE GOING DOWN". NO FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS WERE HEARD FROM THE HELICOPTER. AT 1417, THE HELICOPTER WRECKAGE WAS FOUND AT COORDINATES NORTH 31 DEGREES 45.4 MINUTES, WEST 94 DEGREES 00.3 MINUTES.

## 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 DFW05FA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05FA086), Mar 10, 2005: Bell 206B-3 (N85BH), Shelbyville, TX, substantial damage, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain altitude and clearance for undetermined reasons.

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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