# NTSB ATL82FIJ03: Bell 206B, N5002X, Gate City, VA, May 20, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: May 20, 1982, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Gate City, VA
- Coordinates: 36.630123, -82.580856 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6301&lon=-82.5809&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 20, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69201
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL82FIJ03
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69201/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82FIJ03

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, takeoff
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, approach
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command
  - load jettison - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, approach
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THIS WAS AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION TO MOVE SEISMOGRAPHIC OIL EXPLORATION EQUIPMENT. THE PILOT FLEW TO THE LOADING ZONE WITH A 150 FT CABLE AND AN ALUMINUM BUCKET. AFTER ARRIVING, HE LOWERED THE BUCKET AND HOVERED WHILE THE BUCKET WAS LOADED. THE PILOT THEN LIFTED THE LOADED BUCKET TO ABOUT 40 FT AGL. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, HE TRANSMITTED THAT HE HAD A PROBLEM AND HAD TO SIT THE HELICOPTTER DOWN. THE BUCKET CAME DOWN HARD ABOUT 10 FT FROM ITS PICKUP POINT AND THE HELICOPTER MOVED TO A CLEAR AREA. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER HIT THE TOP OF A TREE, THEN CRASH INTO THE GROUND ABOUT 90 FT FROM THE TREE. THE ALUMINUM BUCKET HAD BEEN DRAGGED ABOUT 200 FT BEFORE IT CAME TO REST AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TREE. THE CABLE WAS DRAPED ACROSS THE TREE AND THE RIGHT SKID BUT WAS FOUND RELEASED. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED NO PRECRASH MALFUNCTION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND NO MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE WAS VERIFIED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5002X (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2425
- Airframe hours: 2425
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 133
- Operator: Imperial Intn'L
- Registered owner: Imperial Intn'L
- Departed: GATE CITY, VA
- Destination: GATE CITY, VA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 4,522 total, 803 in this make and model, 67 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Temperature: 162 °F, dew point 32 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19820520017449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820520017449A), May 20, 1982: Bell 206B, Gate City, VA, Substantial damage. Indicates external load snagged a tree. Long line not jettisoned. Dragged chopper down. No mechanical defects.

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.

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