# Accident 20220719007699A: Bell 206L-3, Templeton, PA, July 19, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 19, 2022, 13:30 local time
- Place: Templeton, PA
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: DEJA
- Location: 41.4002° N, 79.8532° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4002&lon=-79.8532&mi=10
- Aircraft: N203PA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N203PA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206L-3 (registry code 1182108, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l-3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C30 series (registry code 03015, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c30-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L-3
- Reported engine: ROLLS ROYCE ALLISON M250 C-30
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,390 total, 1,467 in this make and model, 167 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA22LA347](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA347) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220719007699A

## Narrative

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

NOTE: (THE INVESTIGATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS COMPLETED AT JIMMY STEWART AIRPORT (KIDI) NOT AT THE LOCATION OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT FLEW THE AIRCRAFT HERE AFTER THE WIRE STRIKE.)

THIS HELICOPTER IS OPERATED UNDER 14CFR PART 135 TO GATHER LASER DATA AND PICTURES OF ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION LINES (LIDAR). AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT IT WAS BEING TRANSITIONED FROM ONE AREA OF OPERATION (KFKL) TO ANOTHER AREA OF OPERATION WNW OF (KIDI) AND OPERATED UNDER 14CFR PART 91.

THE PILOT IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT, STATED: ?HE WAS LOOSELY FOLLOWING THE WESTERN SHORE OF THE ALLEGHENY RIVER AT AN ALTITUDE OF 400 FEET. ? HE FURTHER STATED: HE SAW NO SIGNS OF ACTIVITY OR OBSTRUCTIONS IN AREA AND SAW A QUICK FLASH OF LIGHT OR SOMETHING WHITE OR REFLECTIVE PUSHED THE AIRCRAFT INTO A DESCENT. HE FELT A SLIGHT SHUDDER AFTERWARDS. HE HAD NO MASTER CAUTION LIGHT, CHECKED THE CONTROLS THEN ELECTED TO CONTINUE TO (KIDI) JIMMY STEWART AIRPORT.

INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT SHOWED WIRE STRIKE DAMAGE TO BOTH MAIN ROTOR BLADE APPROXIMATELY 70 INCHES INWARD FROM THE TIPS. THE VERTICAL STABILIZER CAP ALONG WITH THE GPS AND STROBE LIGHTS WERE TORN OFF BY THE WIRE STRIKE AND MISSING AND LATER FOUND AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE WIRING AND CABLE TORE THROUGH THE AFT PORTION OF THE VERTICAL STABILIZER. THERE WAS SCARING ON THE TAIL ROTOR BLADE FROM HITTING THESE WIRES. NO OTHER DAMAGE WAS NOTED.

THE COMPANY PRESIDENT DID STATE IN AN EMAIL THAT THE LOW LEVEL AND HIGH RATE OF SPEED COMBINATION AT WHICH THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WAS CONTRARY TO THE FLIGHT IN THE WIRE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING THE PILOT HAD.

## 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 ERA22LA347](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA347), Jul 19, 2022: Bell 206L-3 (N203PA), Franklin, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate visual lookout while flying at a low level over a river, which resulted in a wire strike.

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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