# Accident 20101210052919A: Bell 206B, Isom, KY, December 10, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 10, 2010, 11:51 local time
- Place: Isom, KY
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: VJBA
- Location: 37.1722° N, 82.8781° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1722&lon=-82.8781&mi=10
- Aircraft: N263CH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N263CH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206B (registry code 1181511, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 19,000 total, 3,300 in this make and model, 90 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA11LA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA083) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101210052919A

## Narrative

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

WHILE CONDUCTING POWERLINE SURVEY CHARTER, N263CH WAS SURVEYING POWERLINES SOUTHBOUND ALONG A HIGHWAY WHEN THE HELICOPTER STRUCK ONE OF THE TOP TWO NEUTURAL WIRES ON ANOTHER SET OF POWERLINES THAT CROSSED THE FLIGHT PATH. THE HELICOPTER AND WIRE CONNECTED AT THE BASE OF THE PILOT SIDE WINDSCREEN, SHATTERING THE WINDOW AND CUTTING THROUGH THE PILOT SIDE DOOR SUPPORT AS IT RODE UP THE CENTER WINDSHIELD SUPPORT INTO THE WIRE CUTTER ON TOP OF THE FUSELAGE. THE WIRE BROKE AND THE PILOT MAINTAINED CONTROL, LANDING THE HELICOPTER UNDER POWER AT THE NEAREST SUITABLE SITE LESS THAN 1/4 MILE AWAY.

## 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 ERA11LA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA083), Dec 10, 2010: Bell 206B (N263CH), Isom, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a known wire hazard during an aerial observation flight.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.