# Accident 20190727023029A: Bell 206B, Dresden, TN, July 27, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 27, 2019, 17:21 local time
- Place: Dresden, TN
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 2CSG
- Location: 36.4478° N, 88.7225° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4478&lon=-88.7225&mi=10
- Aircraft: N454MS, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N454MS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206B (registry code 1181511, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C20B (registry code 03081, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250-C20B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,892 total, 422 in this make and model, 154 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA19CA457](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA457) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190727023029A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 27, 2019 AT 1721 LOCAL TIME, THE PILOT WAS FLYING UNDER PART 137 COMMERCIAL AERIAL SPRAYING OPERATIONS FOR COUCH HELICOPTER SERVICE INC. AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES AND WENT DOWN. HELICOPTER N454MS WAS REPORTED BY THE PILOT TO HAVE JUST COME OUT OF A TURN AROUND, LEVELING OFF AND COMMENCING AN APPLICATION RUN AT APPROXIMATELY 70 (KTS/MPH?). THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF THIS APPLICATION RUN WAS SOUTHBOUND WITH +/- 10 DEGREES. BASED ON THE GPS PLACEMENT OF THE TWO UTILITY POLES, THE ESTIMATED POSITION OF THE WIRE STRIKE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36.448247N/88.722367W. AFTER STRIKING THE WIRE, THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED ON A PATH APPROXIMATELY SOUTH BOUND OR ABOUT 200 DEGREES BASED UPON THE SWATH OF COLLAPSED CORN STALKS. IT APPEARS THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND MOSTLY FLAT AND UPRIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 36.447854N/88.722378W BASED ON THE CROP DAMAGE AND OTHER INDICATIONS. THE APPROXIMATE DISTANCE FROM THE WIRE STRIKE TO THE FIRST POINT OF GROUND IMPACT WAS 145 FEET USING ESTIMATES AND GPS IMPACT POSITION. ON GROUND IMPACT, IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE TAIL BOOM WAS BROKEN AND THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED SLIGHTLY THEN IMPACTED SLIGHTLY NOSE FIRST. THIS IS BASED UPON AN IMPACT MARK ALONG WITH THE LOWER WIRE NOSE WIRE CUTTER BROKEN OFF INTO THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 7-8 FEET FROM THE FIRST IMPACT MARK, STILL ALONG AN APPROXIMATE TRACK OF ABOUT 200 DEGREES. FROM THE SECOND IMPACT POINT IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE MAIN ROTOR SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND CONTINUED ABOVE THE CROP HEIGHT IN A SOUTH/SOUTHEASTERLY DIRECTION. FROM THIS SECOND IMPACT IT APPEARS THE AIRCRAFT?S MAIN FUSELAGE BEGAN A COUNTER CLOCKWISE ROTATION DURING WHICH THE TAIL BOOM BROKE OFF AND CAME TO REST BESIDE THE MAIN FUSELAGE. THE MAIN FUSELAGE ALSO CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE POINTING ABOUT 350 DEGREES ROTATION FROM THE DIRECTION OF THE IMPACT SWATH OF CROPS. THE MAIN BODY OF THE FUSELAGE CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE FACING AN APPROXIMATE HEADING OF 030 DEGREES. DISTANCE FROM THE FIRST GROUND IMPACT TO FINAL RESTING POINT WAS MEASURED BETWEEN GPS POINTS TO BE APPROXIMATELY 19-20 FEET.

THE MAIN ROTOR WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 271 FEET FROM THE MAIN FUSELAGE WRECKAGE ON A PATH OF ABOUT SOUTH/SOUTHWEST. THE ROTOR BLADE WAS RESTING UPRIGHT AND CROP IMPACT DAMAGE INDICATE THE BLADES WERE STILL ROTATING AT LOW ENERGY WHEN IT IMPACTED THE GROUND. THERE WERE SEVERAL CUTS AND PUNCTURES AT RANDOM POINTS ON THE BLADES THAT MAY INDICATE IMPACT WITH SEVERED PIECES OF THE WIRE.

## 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 GAA19CA457](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA457), Jul 27, 2019: Bell 206 (N454MS), Dukedom, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires during an agricultural application flight.

## Other reports on N454MS (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19941124043039I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941124043039I), Nov 24, 1994: Bell 206B (N454MS), Whitetop, VA, Minor damage. Lost tail rotor power during sling load ops. Hard landing bent skid support. One of 4 tr thomas coupling bolts lost

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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