# NTSB CEN10CA446: Bell 206, N275RA, St. Olaf, IA, July 28, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 28, 2010, 17:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: St. Olaf, IA - Coordinates: 42.913055, -91.340835 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9131&lon=-91.3408&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-Des Moines FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76801 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA446 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76801/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76801 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA446 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires during the agricultural flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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 · Effect on equipment; 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) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was performing agricultural spraying operations in the helicopter when the accident occurred. He stated that he was making a final "trim" pass along the northern boundary of the field and heading west into the afternoon sun. He said that as he finished his pass, he looked down at the spray boom to insure that the nozzles were shut off and when he looked back up he saw the wires that crossed his path as they contacted the helicopter. The helicopter became uncontrollable and impacted a field in a nose-low attitude. The pilot reported no preimpact difficulties with the helicopter. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was performing agricultural spraying operations in the helicopter when the accident happened. He stated that he was making a final "trim" pass along the northern boundary of the field and heading west into the afternoon sun. He said that as he finished his pass, he looked down at the spray boom to insure that the nozzles were shut off and when he looked back up he saw the wires that crossed his path as they contacted the helicopter. The helicopter became uncontrollable and impacted into a field in a nose low attitude. The pilot made no mention of pre-impact difficulties with the helicopter in his statement. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N275RA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N275RA-2013-05-06), registration cancelled 2013-05-06, S/N 1823, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206 (B) - Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C20](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20) (registry code 54178, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1823 - Engines: Rolls-Royce 250-C20 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Roma Air Corp - Registered owner: Roma Air Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: St. Olaf, IA - Destination: St. Olaf, IA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: minor; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 26, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 11,680 total, 2,400 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: 310° at 9 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: PDC, 14 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 20100728041539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100728041539A), Jul 28, 2010: Bell 206B, St. Olaf, IA, Substantial damage. The aircraft was conducting aerial application when it impacted a power line damaging the helicopter. The damage caused the aircraft to become uncontrollable… ## 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=76801. 57 KB in all. - Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335630&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.