# Accident 20240708007429A: Bell 206L-3, Thorntown, IN, July 8, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 8, 2024, 19:00 local time
- Place: Thorntown, IN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 2VVG
- Location: 40.1253° N, 86.5633° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1253&lon=-86.5633&mi=10
- Aircraft: N206WX, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N206WX) (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: ALLISON 250-C30 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 9,805 total, 200 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN24LA259](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA259) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240708007429A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 8, 2024, AT APPROXIMATELY 1900 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATING UNDER CFR PART 137 WHILE RELOADING WITH FUNGICIDE AND FUEL. THE PILOT INITIATED LIFTOFF FROM THE PLATFORM UNAWARE THE LOAD-HOSE WAS NOT DISCONNECTED FROM THE HELICOPTER. THE PILOT STATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER LIFTOFF THE HELICOPTER YAWED DUE TO WHAT HE PERCEIVED AS A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND MADE AN IMMEDIATE HARD LANDING IN A CORNFIELD. THE PILOT REALIZED THE LOAD-HOSE TENSION CAUSED THE YAW AFTER THE LANDING.

THE HARD LANDING CAUSED THE TOP ROTOR TO FLEX AND IMPACT THE VERTICAL FINS ON THE TAIL BOOM CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE ROTOR, FINS, AND POSSIBLE TWISTING OF TAIL BOOM. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## 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 CEN24LA259](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA259), Jul 8, 2024: Bell 206L-3 (N206WX), Thorntown, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to ensure that the load hose was disconnected from the helicopter before takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control after liftoff and a hard landing.

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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