# NTSB CEN23LA342: Bell 206B, N231RL, Denison, IA, July 30, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 30, 2023, 08:18 local (13:18 UTC)
- Place: Denison, IA · 15NNE of Denison
- Coordinates: 42.034436, -95.310324 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0344&lon=-95.3103&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: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192774
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA342
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192774/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192774
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA342

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inflight distraction, which resulted in his failure to see and avoid wires.

## Findings

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

- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (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)
- [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/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 to his wife that while conducting an aerial application flight, he became distracted in the cockpit and failed to see and avoid wires that were spanning the field. The helicopter subsequently impacted the wires and then terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot was hospitalized but succumbed to his injuries 18 days after the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N231RL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N231RL), registered now, S/N 1324, built 1974 (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: 1324
- Year built: 1974
- Engines: Rolls-Royce 250-C20B turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Nor Wes Inc
- Registered owner: Nor Wes Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 79; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, waiver time limited special; seat: right

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observed at: KDNS, 4 nm away
- METAR: KDNS 301315Z AUTO 08005KT 10SM CLR 20/20 A3019 RMK AO2

## 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 20230730013369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230730013369A), Jul 30, 2023: Bell 206B, Deloit, IA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Whiile on a spray-run, the aircraft struck a powerline. The powerline was wrapped around the main rotor of the aircraft. This caused the aircraft to come to…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192774. 1.2 MB in all.

- FAA inspector's statement (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15919551&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Inspector%20Statement-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15919985&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.

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