# Accident 20070716015039A: Bell 206B, Dillon, MT, July 16, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 16, 2007, 08:30 local time
- Place: Dillon, MT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Running(Helicopter/Vtol Ac)
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: JMEL
- Location: 44.5575° N, 111.7750° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5575&lon=-111.7750&mi=10
- Aircraft: N164JS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N164JS-2007-12-26) (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
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 12,860 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 31 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA07CA200](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07CA200) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070716015039A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AT APPROXIMATELY 0830 HOURS ON JULY 16, 2007, AT LOCATION 15.5 MILES NORTHWEST OF THE ISLAND PARK RESERVOIR, ON THE MONTANA SIDE OF THE MONTANA/IDAHO STATE LINE, WHILE CONDUCTING A HELICOPTER EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION, THE PILOT WAS BACK-HAULING AN EMPTY BAG WITHIN A CARGO NET TO PICK UP 5 FOOT STEEL ANGLE IRON. DURING THE FLIGHT, THE EXTERNAL LOAD SWUNG BACK AND CONTACTED THE AIRCRAFT TAIL ROTOR. THE PILOT EXPERIENCED HEAVY VIBRATIONS, NOISE AND A YAW. HE ENTERED AUTOROTATION TO A SMALL CLEARING. JUST PRIOR TO LANDING THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO SPIN. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOT EXITED THE AIRCRAFT THROUGH THE RIGHT SIDE WINDSHIELD. A SMALL FIRE STARTED AT THE ENGINE EXHAUST STACK ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH THE AIRCRAFT'S FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

## 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 SEA07CA200](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07CA200), Jul 16, 2007: Bell 206B II (N164JS), Sheep Mountain, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The external load net, attached directly to the cargo hook without the use of a long line, oscillated and made contact with the tail rotor system while maneuvering.

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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