# Accident 20090308005799A: Bell 206L4, Moundridge, KS, March 8, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 8, 2009, 14:25 local time
- Place: Moundridge, KS
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: GFLA
- Location: 38.2114° N, 97.5653° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2114&lon=-97.5653&mi=10
- Aircraft: N863H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N863H-2013-01-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206-L4 (registry code 1182110, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206-l4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L4
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C30P
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 25,012 total, 4,475 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN09FA193](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09FA193) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090308005799A

## Narrative

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

(-23)  ON MARCH 8, 2009, APPROXIMATELY 14:25 CST A BELL-206 L-4, N863H, PILOTED BY COMMERCIAL PILOT, WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT IMPACTED A FIELD APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES NW OF MOUNDRIDGE, KS.  DAY VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT TIME OF ACCIDENT.  WEATHER WAS CLEAR WITH A LIGHT WIND OUT OF THE NW.  THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT AND WAS FATALLY INJURED.  THE HELICOPTER WAS ON A FERRY REPOSITIONING FLIGHT FOR PART 135 OPERATOR GFLA, HILLCREST AIRCRAFT CO.  THIS FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM OGALLALA, NE WITH A PLANNED FUEL STOP SOMEWHERE AROUND WICHITA, KS.  THIS WAS THE SECOND DAY OF A MULTIPLE REPOSITIONING FLIGHT FROM LEWISTON, ID TO ARLINGTON, VA.  HELICOPTER IMPACTED A FIELD IN A SE DIRECTION CREATING A DEBRIS PATH 60YDS LONG.  ON-BOARD FLIGHT TRACKING SYSTEM SHOWED ALTITUDE FLUCTUATIONS BETWEEN 600 FT TO 200 FT AGL OVER LAST 20 MIN OF FLIGHT.  ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION FOUND 5 GALLONS OF FUEL IN MAIN FUEL TANK; 4 GROUND SCARS FROM MAIN ROTOR BLADE IMPACT; 2 GROUND SCARS FROM TAIL ROTOR BLADE IMPACT; NUMEROUS MEDICAL SUPPLIES INCLUDING BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICINE, COLD MEDICINE, VITAMINS, BLOOD PRESSURE MONITOR, AND A CPAP MACHINE.  DECEMBER 2008, FAA ISSUED THE PILOT A 6 YEAR AUTHORIZATION FOR SPECIAL ISSUANCE OF A MEDICAL CERTIFICATION AFTER PILOTS MEDICAL INFORMATION REVEALED A HISTORY OF SLEEP APNEA AND HYPERTENSION.

## 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 CEN09FA193](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09FA193), Mar 8, 2009: Bell 206-L4 (N863H), Moundridge, KS, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: Inflight collision with terrain 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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