# Accident 20070119000369A: Bell 206B3, Springville, CA, January 19, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 19, 2007, 11:40 local time
- Place: Springville, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.1758° N, 118.8125° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1758&lon=-118.8125&mi=10
- Aircraft: N185BC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N185BC-2007-04-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206B-III (registry code 1181506, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b-iii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C20 series (registry code 03020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 17,000 total, 16,000 in this make and model, 350 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX07CA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA072) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070119000369A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATING IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN UNDER CONTRACT TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME CONDUCTING LOW LEVEL WILDLIFE SURVEILLANCE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS AT AN APPROXIMATE ALTITUDE OF 30' TO 50' ABOVE GROUND LEVEL WHEN HE MADE A RIGHT TURN TOWARDS RISING TERRAIN AND ENCOUNTERED SUDDEN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT DIRECTLY INTO HIS EYES. THIS CAUSED HIM TO LOSE ORIENTATION WITH TERRAIN AND HE STRUCK AN OAK TREE WITH THE MAIN ROTOR. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO A REST INVERTED ON THE SIDE OF THE HILL AND THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS (WILD LIFE BIOLOGIST AND A DEER TAGGER) WERE ABLE TO EGRESS WITH MINOR INJURIES. THE MAIN ROTOR WAS DESTROYED AND THE AIRCRAFT HAD SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## 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 LAX07CA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA072), Jan 19, 2007: Bell Helicopter 206BIII (N185BC), Springville, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain terrain/obstacle clearance while maneuvering. Factors were the mountainous terrain, trees, and low-altitude flight maneuvers.

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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