# NTSB CEN10CA428: Bell 206B, N40TA, New Hampton, IA, July 23, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 23, 2010, 18:18 local (23:18 UTC)
- Place: New Hampton, IA
- Coordinates: 43.086944, -92.343055 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0869&lon=-92.3431&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Des Moines FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 76737
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA428
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76737/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76737
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA428

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Bell 206B, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he struck wires at the end of an aerial application spray run, which caused the helicopter to shake violently. During the emergency landing, the helicopter landed hard and rolled over on its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to its fuselage, main rotor, and tail rotor. The pilot stated that he should have performed a better “recon” for obstacles and wires in the field.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he struck wires at the end of an aerial application spray run which caused the helicopter to shake violently. During the emergency landing, the helicopter landed hard and rolled over on its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to its fuselage, main rotor, and tail rotor. The pilot stated that he should have performed a better “recon” for obstacles and wires in the field.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N40TA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40TA-2018-02-28), registration cancelled 2018-02-28, S/N 2412, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C20B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20b) (registry code 54385, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2412
- Engines: ROLLS-ROYCE 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Topside Aviation Inc
- Registered owner: Topside Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal
- Departed: New Hampton, IA
- Destination: New Hampton, IA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; medical: class 2; seat: right; flight hours: 5,970 total, 1,270 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 8 statute miles

## 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 20100723043489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100723043489A), Jul 23, 2010: Bell 206B, New Hampton, IA, Substantial damage. Struck overhead power line while performing aerial application with a rotorcraft. There were no wire cutters installed on the aircraft.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 8, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76737. 764 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 764 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335315&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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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