# NTSB CEN23LA279: Bell 206B, N67FA, Chapman, KS, July 5, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 5, 2023, 16:41 local (21:41 UTC) - Place: Chapman, KS · field - Coordinates: 38.9978, -97.0175 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9978&lon=-97.0175&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 192545 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA279 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192545/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192545 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA279 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the power line during an agricultural application pass. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); 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) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=1181511), [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) (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) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: 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 intended to spray a corn field and had discussed the location of power lines with his ground crew. As he approached the field, he observed power lines on 3 sides of the field in addition to a large set of power lines feeding into an adjacent substation. The pilot completed a 360° survey to identify the hazards including power lines, guy wires, and trees. During the survey, the middle of the field appeared to be clear. The pilot initiated an initial application pass and the helicopter struck a green wire, about 1/4" in diameter. The pilot’s efforts to maintain control of the helicopter were not successful, and it subsequently impacted the corn field. The helicopter came to rest on its left side with substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, main rotor blades, and flight controls. The pilot stated that there were no failures or malfunctions related to the helicopter before the impact with the power line. He also noted that the power line was green in color which was “practically invisible” with the background of the corn field. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N67FA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N67FA), registered now, S/N 5168, built 1994 (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-C20 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (registry code 03020, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 5168 - Year built: 1994 - Airframe hours: 10095 - Engines: Allison 250-C20 SER 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Sf Leasing LLC, doing business as Fulks Helicopter Service - Registered owner: Sf Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 22, 2023, 2 hours before - Departed: PVT, Junction City, KS - Destination: PVT, Junction City, KS - Airport: PVT, Smokey Valley Ag - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 3, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 5,250 total, 2,008 in this make and model, 4,656 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 4 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KFRI, 12 nm away - METAR: METAR KFRI 052155Z 01004KT 7SM FEW025 BKN070 27/19 A3005 ## 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 20230705011249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230705011249A), Jul 5, 2023: Bell 206B, Chapman, KS, Substantial damage. On 07/05/2023 with VFR weather, at 16:48 CST, the Kansas highway patrol reported aircraft [privacy data omitted], a Bell 206 helicopter, had crashed while… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 8, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192545. 7.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15911698&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Report%20--%20CEN23LA279_redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photos (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15910409&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20--%20CEN23LA279-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records -- annual inspection (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15911240&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Annual%20Inspection%20~%20N67FA_redacted-Rel.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.