# NTSB ATL84FA297: Bell 206B, N7CF, Kernersville, NC, September 26, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 25, 1984, 21:46 local (Sep 26, 1984, 01:46 UTC)
- Place: Kernersville, NC
- Coordinates: 36.110229, -80.070945 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1102&lon=-80.0709&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6304
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL84FA297
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6304/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84FA297

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, hover
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - unsafe/hazardous condition - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - crew/group coordination - inadequate (contributing factor)
  - air/ground communications - inadequate (contributing factor)
  - proper assistance - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - object - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, other crewmember (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - residence

## Analysis

WHILE DISMANTLING A WATER TOWER, AN IRON WORKER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED & PINNED AS HE WAS REMOVING A PORTION OF A WATER TOWER LEG (APRX 92 FT AGL). THE HELICOPTER PLT RESPONDED TO THE EMERGENCY. THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A MAKE-SHIFT SLING LINE TO RETRIEVE THE INJURED IRON WORKER. THE IRON WORKER DIED, BUT THE HELICOPTER PLT VOLUNTEERED TO CONTINUE WITH THE MISSION. THE PLT WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS TYPE OF OPERATION, BUT A PARAMEDIC WAS ON BOARD TO ASSIST. THE PARAMEDIC WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH HELICOPTER OPERATIONS. SVRL QUARTZ HALOGEN LGTS WERE USED TO ILLUMINATE THE 4 WATER TOWER LEGS. AT THE PLT'S REQUEST, ALL BUT 1  WERE TURNED OFF TO KEEP FROM BLINDING THE PLT AS HE HOVERED OVER THE STRUCTURE AT NGT. THERE WAS NO DIRECT RADIO COMM BETWEEN THE PLT & GROUND PSNL, BUT THE PARAMEDIC WAS IN CONTACT WITH GROUND PSNL. WHILE HOVERING, THE HELICOPTER MOVED SLOWLY BACK TOWARD A LEG OF THE  STRUCTURE. GROUND PSNL TRIED TO WARN THE PLT, BUT THE HELICOPTER HIT A WATER TOWER LEG, THEN CRASHED & BURNED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7CF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7CF-1990-02-14), registration cancelled 1990-02-14, S/N 3059 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 3059
- Airframe hours: 1875
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Triad Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 11, 1984, 20 hours before
- Departed: INT, WINSTON-SALEM, NC

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 12,670 total, 1,870 in this make and model, 109 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: INT, 10 nm away

## 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 19840925054919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840925054919A), Sep 25, 1984: Bell 206B, Kernersville, NC, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Main rotor blades struck leg of partially dismantled water tower while trying to recover a body from the tower.

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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