# NTSB DFW07CA143: Bell BH206B-3, N196TV, Sand Springs, OK, June 20, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 20, 2007, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Sand Springs, OK - Coordinates: 36.174999, -96.151664 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1750&lon=-96.1517&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - NTSB case key (mKey): 66028 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW07CA143 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66028/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07CA143 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with ground obstacles, which resulted in a blade strike. A contributing factor was the low altitude selected by the pilot. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - low pass - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor) - object - vehicle (cause) - rotor system,main rotor blade - blade strike (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, emergency landing - Hard landing, emergency landing ## Analysis The 3,354-hour commercial helicopter pilot reported that a main rotor blade collided with a satellite dish that was mounted atop the satellite truck from a television station. The pilot reported that the local flight originated at the home base airport about 15 minutes earlier. The pilot picked-up a camera operator at the requested site. The camera man boarded the helicopter and was seated on the right rear seat. The purpose of the flight was to film a television commercial for the television station showing the helicopter and the satellite truck working together as a news gathering team. The helicopter was reported to have made a series of low passes over the satellite truck. A ground crew was located nearby to film the flybys by the helicopter. The helicopter was reported to have pitched-up sharply after the main rotor came in contact with the satellite dish. The helicopter subsequently impacted the ground in a right skid-low attitude and came to rest on it's right-side. The main rotor system and the tail boom separated from the airframe during the impact sequence. There was no fire. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the cameraman was uninjured. Both occupants were able to egress the helicopter unassisted. Weather at the airport, 53 minutes after the accident, was reported as winds from 090 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 10 statute miles with light rain, temperature 25 degrees Celsius, dew point 19 degrees Celsius, and altimeter 30.14 inches of Mercury. ## Factual narrative The 3,354-hour commercial helicopter pilot reported that a main rotor blade collided with a satellite dish that was mounted atop the satellite truck from a television station. The pilot reported that the local flight originated at the home base airport about 15 minutes earlier. The pilot picked-up a camera operator at the requested site. The camera man boarded the helicopter and was seated on the right rear seat. The purpose of the flight was to film a television commercial for the television station showing the helicopter and the satellite truck working together as a news gathering team. The helicopter was reported to have made a series of low passes over the satellite truck. A ground crew was located nearby to film the flybys by the helicopter. The helicopter was reported to have pitched-up sharply after the main rotor came in contact with the satellite dish. The helicopter subsequently impacted the ground in a right skid-low attitude and came to rest on it's right-side. The main rotor system and the tail boom separated from the airframe during the impact sequence. There was no fire. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the cameraman was uninjured. Both occupants were able to egress the helicopter unassisted. Weather at the airport, 53 minutes after the accident, was reported as winds from 090 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 10 statute miles with light rain, temperature 25 degrees Celsius, dew point 19 degrees Celsius, and altimeter 30.14 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N196TV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N196TV-2008-05-01), registration cancelled 2008-05-01, S/N 2758 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL BH206B-3 - Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2758 - Airframe hours: 10953 - Engines: Rolls-Royce 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: Griffin Capital Corp - Registered owner: Griffen Capital Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 1, 2007 - Departed: RVS, TULSA, OK - Destination: 0F8, SAND SPRINGS, OK - Airport: 0F8, William R. Pogue Muni, runway 17, 5,800 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: minor; commercial; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2007; seat: right; flight hours: 3,354 total, 2,630 in this make and model, 3,354 as pilot in command, 95 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: TUL, 10 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 20070620009859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070620009859A), Jun 20, 2007: Bell 206B, Sand Springs, OK, Destroyed. (-23) A television station was filming a promoational segment involving the helicopter that was involved in the accident and a satellite communications vehicle… 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.