# Accident 20230721008829A: Bell 206B, Terra Alta, WV, July 21, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 21, 2023, 11:40 local time
- Place: Terra Alta, WV
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: ZIFA
- Location: 39.4555° N, 79.5927° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4555&lon=-79.5927&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9913K, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9913K) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206B (registry code 1181511, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 SER 400HP (registry code 03013, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250 SER 400HP
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,389 total, 178 in this make and model, 123 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA307](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA307) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230721008829A

## Narrative

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

TRANSCRIBED FROM THE PILOTS ORIGINAL WRITTEN STATEMENT

STARTED RECORDING LIDAR ON DESIGNATED POWERLINE. HEADING SOUTHEAST UP INTO MOUNTAINOUS AREA.AS WE CROSSED THE TOP AND CAME OVER I VERIFIED WITH THE OPERATOR THAT THE PICTURES WERE STILL LOOKING GOOD. HE CONFIRMED THINGS WERE GOOD AND PICTURES OF LINES IN FRAME.I RECOGNIZED BEING HIT BY A WINDGUST THAT WAS NOT FORECASTED FROM BEHIND US SOON AFTER.LOOKING DOWN AND SEEING ALTITUDE DROP AND AIRSPEED DECREASE BELOW 30KT I MADE A MINUTE CORRECTION TO INCREASE AIRSPEED. I LOOKED DOWN AGAIN AND EVEN MORE ALTITUDE WAS LOST AND AIRSPEED DROPPED TO AROUND 22 KTS.IT FELT LIKE WE WERE SLOWLY BEING PUSHED DOWNWARD BY THE GUST. THIS MADE ME BELIEVE WE WERE IN SETTLING WITH POWER.

BY THEN WE WERE TOO LOW IN ALTITUDE TO PERFORM A RECOVERY PROCEDURE SO AN EMEGENCY LANDING WAS MADE TO AVOID STRIKING POWER LINE WIRES AS BEST AS POSSIBLE. AS WE CAME CLOSE TO THE LINE I HUGGED THE TREELINE TO CLEAR THE WIRES. THE MAIN ROTOR HIT A TREE BUT I STILL FEEL LIKE I HAD DESCENT CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. AS WE APPROACHED THE GROUND I LEVELED THE AIRCRAFT AS BEST I COULD AND RAISED THE COLLECTIVE TO CUSHION THE LANDING AS BEST AS POSSIBLE. WE HIT FRONT SKID FORWARD AND THEN LEVELED OUT, THEN IMMEDIATELY ROLLED OVER TO THE RIGHT

## 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 ERA23LA307](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA307), Jul 21, 2023: Bell 206 (N9913K), Terra Alta, WV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inability to maneuver the helicopter for recovery after experiencing a strong, unanticipated tailwind in a confined operating area, which resulted in a descent and subsequent impact with…

## Other reports on N9913K (1)

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

- [Accident 19960813022649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960813022649A), Aug 13, 1996: Bell 206B (N9913K), Starks, ME, Substantial damage. Power line patrol. Flew slow downwind to observe spot. Got too slow. Lost tail rotor effect. Yawed. Tail hit trees.

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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