20160729012629A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Bell 206B · Yakima, WA · July 29, 2016

Date: July 29, 2016 · 10:51 local
Place: Yakima, WA
Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: RLJG
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N1087N
NTSB investigation: NTSBGAA16CA405
Reported as: Bell 206B
Reported engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20B
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 3,920 total

N1087NRegistration cancelled Oct 4, 2016 · Bell 206BS/N 3019 · Built 1980 Airframe modelBell 206B Engine modelRolls-Royce 250-C20BTurbo-shaft

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

N1087N, a 1980 Bell 206B helicopter received substantial damage and subsequently caught on fire destroying the aircraft. The commercially rated pilot received serious injuries involving broken ribs, and was admitted to a local hospital.

This flight was operated under part 137 (aerial application). Witness reports that the helicopter attempted to take-off with the chemical filler hose still attached to the aircraft hoper, and over the landing skids. The helicopter rolled onto it's side and began to burn after the injured pilot was able to evacuate himself from the helicopter.

As the FAA filed it

N1087N, A 1980 BELL 206B HELICOPTER RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND SUBSEQUENTLY CAUGHT ON FIRE DESTROYING THE AIRCRAFT. THE COMMERCIALLY RATED PILOT RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES INVOLVING BROKEN RIBS, AND WAS ADMITTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL.

THIS FLIGHT WAS OPERATED UNDER PART 137 (AERIAL APPLICATION). WITNESS REPORTS THAT THE HELICOPTER ATTEMPTED TO TAKE-OFF WITH THE CHEMICAL FILLER HOSE STILL ATTACHED TO THE AIRCRAFT HOPER, AND OVER THE LANDING SKIDS. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED ONTO IT'S SIDE AND BEGAN TO BURN AFTER THE INJURED PILOT WAS ABLE TO EVACUATE HIMSELF FROM THE HELICOPTER.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB GAA16CA405Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportOutlook, WAThe pilot and ground crew's failure to visually inspect the helicopter's skids before takeoff, which resulted in a water hose becoming entangled on the right skid, a loss of control, an impact with terrain, and a post-crash fire.Jul 29, 2016 · Destroyed