20180818018519A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Bell 206B · Battle Mountain, NV · August 18, 2018

Date: August 18, 2018 · 14:15 local
Place: Battle Mountain, NV
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: 9WQA
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N8052G
NTSB investigation: NTSBGAA18CA512
Reported as: Bell 206B
Reported engine: Allison 250-C20 series
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 3
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 3,500 total1,100 in this make and model130 in the last 90 days

N8052GRegistration cancelled Jan 9, 2019 · Bell 206BS/N 4050 · Built 1989 Airframe modelBell 206B Engine modelAllison 250-C20 seriesTurbo-prop

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.

8-18-2018 The aircraft was involved in an accident while conducting a chucker wildlife survey.

The pilot stated while in close proximity to the ground a suspected micro burst caused the airspeed to indicate zero with a loss of control of the helicopter. The pilot attempted to cushion the impact with the ground but the helicopter landed hard, spinning and coming to rest on it's right side. One of the two passengers exiting the helicopter announced fire. The helicopter was consumed by the post accident fire.

As the FAA filed it

8-18-2018 THE AIRCRAFT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE CONDUCTING A CHUCKER WILDLIFE SURVEY.

THE PILOT STATED WHILE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE GROUND A SUSPECTED MICRO BURST CAUSED THE AIRSPEED TO INDICATE ZERO WITH A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CUSHION THE IMPACT WITH THE GROUND BUT THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD, SPINNING AND COMING TO REST ON IT'S RIGHT SIDE. ONE OF THE TWO PASSENGERS EXITING THE HELICOPTER ANNOUNCED FIRE. THE HELICOPTER WAS CONSUMED BY THE POST ACCIDENT FIRE.

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 GAA18CA512Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportBattle Mountain, NVThe pilot's failure to maintain the proper altitude and airspeed while flying in a canyon in gusting wind conditions.Aug 18, 2018 · Destroyed