# Accident 20190523005069A: Bell 206B, Pittsfield, IL, May 23, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 23, 2019, 12:25 local time
- Place: Pittsfield, IL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 2HQG
- Location: 39.6517° N, 90.8100° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6517&lon=-90.8100&mi=10
- Aircraft: N158H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N158H-2022-07-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206B (registry code 1181511, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20B (registry code 54385, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C20B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,100 total, 700 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA19CA278](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA278) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190523005069A

## Narrative

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

ON MAY 23, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 12:25 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME (CDT), AN BELL 206B HELICOPTER, N158H, REGISTERED TO ORLANDO AIRCRAFT SALES LLC AND OPERATED BY A COMMERCIAL PILOT, RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN IN A PRIVATE OWNED FARM FIELD, NORTH OF THE TOWN OF PITTSFIELD, IL.

THE COMMERCIAL FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 137 WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS UNINJURED. THE FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED OUT OF THE FARM FIELD.

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT AND ONE WITNESS, THE AIRCRAFT WAS MAKING A PASS TO THE NORTH, WHEN THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE GROUND AND THEN IT ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES.  CONDITIONS OBSERVED AT THE SCENE, SHOW THAT BOTH SKIDS OF THE HELICOPTER HAD IMPACTED THE GROUND, AT WHICH TIME THEY BOTH EMBEDDED INTO THE SOIL AND THE FORWARD PORTION OF EACH HAD SHEARED OFF.

THE AWOS WEATHER REPORT AT PITTSFIELD PENSTONE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (KPPQ) AT 12:15 CDT WAS: WIND 340 DEGREES AT 04 KNOTS, VISIBILITY 10 STATUTE MILES, SCATTERED AT 3200 FEET AGL, TEMPERATURE 22 CELSIUS, DEW POINT 15 CELSIUS, AND ALTIMETER 3012.

## 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 GAA19CA278](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA278), May 23, 2019: Bell 206 (N158H), Pittsfield, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain during agricultural application operations.

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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