- Date
- June 29, 1992, 18:42 local (23:42 UTC)
- Place
- Bessemer, AL
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N2636XBell 206B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 26, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920629022699A
- Case key
- 8624
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilots failure to maintain clearance from wires.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While spraying herbicides along the utility right of way, the helicopter collided with the utility lines about 150 feet above the ground. The helicopter fell to the ground and burned. Examination of the wreckage failed to disclose any mechanical malfunctions or material failure. Another helicopter from the company operating within the same area reported that there was no distress radio call received from the accident helicopter nor were there witnesses to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2636X
- Reported as
- Bell 206B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 801
- Airframe hours
- 8,932
- Engine
- Allison C20B, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Chem-Air Inc.,
- Registered owner
- Chem-Air Inc.,
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- AAIP · June 6, 1992 · 46 hours before
- Departed
- PVT · Pelham, AL
- Destination
- PVT
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 10,942 total · 3,808 in this make and model · 10,942 as pilot in command · 35 in the last 90 days · 35 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 13 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,500 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 86 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BHM, 20 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.