# NTSB CEN13LA447: Bell 206B, N23L, Tamaroa, IL, July 19, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 19, 2013, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Tamaroa, IL - Coordinates: 38.093612, -89.192779 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0936&lon=-89.1928&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 30, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA -- Springfield Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 87624 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA447 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87624/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87624 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA447 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain during an agricultural application maneuver. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/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); cases with it: [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot took off on the aerial application flight, flew the helicopter about 1/4 mile to the assigned field, and completed an initial application pass. The pilot recalled that the helicopter was approaching the point at which he intended to reverse course for the next spray run; however, he did not recall the accident sequence. The accident site was located about 1/4 mile south of his planned turning point in an adjacent farm field. The pilot commented that the terrain was "flat" with corn about 8 feet tall. He also noted that the helicopter was "performing great" with no known problems before the accident. A postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a preimpact malfunction or failure. ## Factual narrative On July 19, 2013, about 0930 central daylight time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N23L, impacted crops and terrain during an agricultural application pass near Tamaroa, Illinois. The pilot reported no injuries. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Kash Helicopter Services LLC under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight originated from a private helipad near the accident site about 0928.The pilot reported that he took off, flew about one-quarter mile to the assigned field, and completed an initial application pass. He recalled that he was approaching his intended turning point to reverse course for the next spray run; however, he did not recall the accident sequence. The accident site was located about one-quarter mile south of his planned turning point in an adjacent farm field. The main rotor contacted and severed the tailboom during the accident sequence; the helicopter came to rest on its right side. The pilot commented that the terrain was "flat" with eight-foot tall corn. He also noted that the helicopter was "performing great" with no known problems prior to the accident.A postaccident examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a preimpact malfunction or failure. ## Aircraft - Registration: N23L (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BELL 206B - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3582 - Airframe hours: 17743 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250-C20B 450 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Kash Helicopter Services LLC - Registered owner: Kash Helicopter Services LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 31, 2013 - Departed: PVT, Tamaroa, IL - Destination: PVT, Tamaroa, IL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; airline transport; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 7, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 6,235 total, 4,600 in this make and model, 4,729 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: MVN, 21 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 20130719013679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130719013679A), Jul 19, 2013: Bell 206B, Mt. Vernon, IL, Substantial damage. Pilot had just completed a swath run over a field when the aircraft came in contact with the ground resulting in minor injuries to the pilot and sole occupant,… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87624. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401363&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Conversation Record -- FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401393&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Conversation%20Record%20--%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.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.