# Accident 20130624010799A: Bell 206, Royal City, WA, June 24, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 24, 2013, 07:27 local time
- Place: Royal City, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.9018° N, 119.6209° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Royal City, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9018&lon=-119.6209&mi=10
- Aircraft: N407KF (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 245 total, 32 in this make and model, 32 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130624010799A

## Narrative

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

ON JUNE 24, 2013 N407FK A 1989 BELL JET RANGER HELICOPTER RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AS THE RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRYING CHERRIES.  THE PILOT WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL WITH BACK INJURIES.

THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT 07:27 PDT AFTER A TAKE OFF TIME OF 05:15.  INTERVIEWS CONFIRM THE THE HELICOPTER WAS TOPPED OFF WITH JET-A FUEL PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT.

IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PILOT AT THE HOSPITAL HE STATED; "THIS ACCIDENT WAS 100% PILOT ERROR".  HE ADDED THAT HE HAD BECOME DISTRACTED DUE TO ANOTHER HELICOPTER ENTERING THE ORCHARD TO DRY CHERRIES ON A COMMON VHF FREQUENCY OF 123.45.  WHILE LOOKING FOR THE OTHER HELICOPTER, N407FK INADVERTANTLY DESCENDED INTO AND BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE BIRD NETTING SUSPENDED OVER THE CHERRY TREES.  THIS NET IS ABOUT 20 FEET OFF THE GROUND.

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT HE WAS FLYING AT AN ALTITUDE OF 5 FEET OVER THE NET DRYING CHERRIES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

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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