# NTSB CEN25LA266: Bell B206-B, N975TR, Bloomington, IL, July 18, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 18, 2025, 07:00 local (12:00 UTC) - Place: Bloomington, IL - Coordinates: 40.4383, -88.922588 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4383&lon=-88.9226&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - 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): 200591 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA266 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200591/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA266 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to avoid power lines during an aerial application flight. ## 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) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: 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 completing an aerial application flight in the helicopter. During a spray pass, he noticed a car on the nearby road, so he slowed the helicopter to avoid the applicant drifting onto the car. He then noticed power lines in front of him and attempted to fly underneath them but collided with the lower line. The pilot lost control of the helicopter which impacted in a field and came to rest on its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and tail boom. The pilot added that he was not aware of the powerlines before the flight, even though he had sprayed this field many times before. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N975TR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N975TR), registered now, S/N 1235, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL B206-B - 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: 1235 - Year built: 1974 - Engines: Allison 250 400 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Pnj Investements LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Minier, IL - Destination: BMI, Bloomington, IL - Airport: BMI, Central Il Rgnl/Bloomington-Normal - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: minor; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 12, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 5,000 total, 500 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,200 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: KBMI, 3 nm away - METAR: KBMI 181156Z 04007KT 10SM BKN042 OVC055 18/17 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP200 70001 T01780172 10189 20178 53009 ## 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 20250718010399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250718010399A), Jul 18, 2025: Bell 206B, Bloomington, IL, Substantial damage. Between 6:30 and 7:00 am, the pilot set up his “a-b line” because he still had 5 gallons of product left in the hopper from the previous day and the nurse… 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.