# NTSB CEN11LA023: Bell 206B, N499BH, Newton, TX, October 13, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 13, 2010, 08:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: Newton, TX - Coordinates: 30.850687, -93.749198 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8507&lon=-93.7492&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 77619 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA023 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77619/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77619 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA023 ## Probable cause The pilot’s attempted takeoff with the fuel hose attached to the helicopter and the pilot and ground crew’s failure to accurately communicate. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Communication (personnel): accuracy of communication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063515): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063515/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063515/cases.md) - [Communication (personnel): accuracy of communication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063515): Personnel issues › Task performance · Ground crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063515/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063515/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft servicing event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot landed the agricultural helicopter on a truck and remained inside the cockpit while a ground crew added chemical and fuel. After mistakenly believing that a ground crew member had signaled that it was safe to depart, the pilot lifted the helicopter off the truck only to realize that the fuel hose was still attached. The helicopter rolled to the right and off the truck. A main rotor blade impacted the ground and one of the ground crew members. The helicopter came to rest on its right side and the pilot was able to exit unassisted. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact malfunctions or failure with the helicopter’s flight controls or engine. ## Factual narrative On October 13, 2010, about 0800 central daylight time, a single-engine Bell 206B helicopter, N499BH, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during takeoff near Newton, Texas. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; however, a ground crew member sustained serious injuries. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Heartland Helicopters Leasing Inc., of Fort Worth, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. According to the pilot, he had landed on a loader truck and remained in the agricultural helicopter while a ground crew added chemical and fuel. After mistakenly thinking that a ground crew member had signaled that it was safe to depart, the pilot lifted the helicopter off the truck only to find that the fuel hose was still attached. The helicopter rolled over to the right and the main rotor blade impacted the ground and one of the ground crew members. The helicopter came to rest on its right side and the pilot was able to exit unassisted. The ground crew member was airlifted to a hospital. The pilot later reported that there were no malfunctions or failure with the helicopter’s flight controls or engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N499BH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N499BH-2021-10-18), registration cancelled 2021-10-18, S/N 2400, 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: [Allison 250 SER 400HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (registry code 03013, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2400 - Airframe hours: 7684 - Engines: ALLISON 250 400 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Heartland Helicopter Leasing Inc - Registered owner: Heartland Helicopter Leasing Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 9, 2010 - Departed: Newton, TX - Destination: Newton, TX - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2; last flight review June 16, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 25,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 240 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: JAS, 15 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 20101013051219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101013051219A), Oct 13, 2010: Bell 206B, Winnie, TX, Destroyed. The pilot landed ontop of a fuel truck to refuel. One of the ground personel made a hand gesture that the pilot mistook as a signal for takeoff. Upon lifting… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 17, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77619. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339477&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. --- 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.