# NTSB ERA09CA482: Bell 206, N98KR, Gumboro Township, DE, August 24, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 24, 2009, 17:36 local (21:36 UTC)
- Place: Gumboro Township, DE
- Coordinates: 38.795833, -75.609169 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7958&lon=-75.6092&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) operating: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 29, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74597
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA482
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74597/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74597
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA482

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to secure the flight controls before exiting the running helicopter. Contributing to the accident was the operator’s practice of exiting the helicopter while it was still running.

## Findings

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

- [Policy/procedure: adequacy of policy/proc](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021015): Organizational issues › Management · Operator (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021015/cases.md?model=1182107), [All aircraft, 106 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021015/cases.md)
- [Parking/securing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011000): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011000/cases.md?model=1182107), [All aircraft, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011000/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md?model=1182107), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Standing-engine(s) operating: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md?model=1182107), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The helicopter pilot stated that he was completing an aerial application flight due to deteriorating weather. After landing on a wet, elevated platform, he exited the running helicopter, which was a common company practice during refueling and reloading operations. Moments later, the helicopter yawed to the right, slid off the platform and landed on the mast, resulting in substantial damage to the rotor assembly, left side fuselage, and tail boom. The pilot later stated that he did not recall securing the flight controls before exiting the helicopter. A Federal Aviation Administration examination of the accident scene revealed that the flight control friction locks were not tight, and that the landing platform was not level. A representative of the helicopter manufacturer stated that there was nothing published by the company that restricted a pilot from exiting a helicopter while it was running. However, there is a note in the pilot’s operating handbook for the engine shutdown procedure that states, “Pilot -- remain at flight controls until rotor has come to a complete stop.” A representative of the National Agricultural Aviation Association stated that although the practice of hot refueling was common in the industry, the practice of exiting a running helicopter was not.

## Factual narrative

The helicopter pilot stated that he was conducting an aerial application flight before landing due to deteriorating weather. After landing on a wet, elevated platform, he exited the running helicopter, which was a common company practice during refueling and reloading operations. Moments later, the helicopter yawed to the right, slid off the platform and landed on the mast, resulting in substantial damage to the rotor assembly, left side fuselage, and tail boom. The pilot later stated that he did not recall securing the flight controls before exiting the helicopter. A Federal Aviation Administration examination of the accident scene revealed that the flight control friction locks were not tight, and that the landing platform was not level. A representative of the helicopter manufacturer stated that there was nothing published by the company that restricted a pilot from exiting a helicopter while it was running. However, there is a note in the pilot’s operating handbook for the engine shutdown procedure that states, “Pilot -- remain at flight controls until rotor has come to a complete stop.” A representative of the National Agricultural Aviation Association stated that although the practice of hot refueling was common in the industry, the practice of exiting a running helicopter was not.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N98KR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98KR-2013-09-12), registration cancelled 2013-09-12, S/N 45683, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206 (L1)
- Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (registry code 1182107) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C30P](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c30p) (registry code 54013, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 45683
- Airframe hours: 7144
- Engines: Rolls Royce 250-C30P turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Helicopter Applicators Inc
- Registered owner: Helicopter Applicators Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 6, 2009, 6 hours before
- Departed: Gumboro Township, DE
- Destination: Gumboro Township, DE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 14, 2009; flight hours: 16,000 total, 250 in this make and model, 15,800 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg

## 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 20090824048849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090824048849A), Aug 24, 2009: Bell Helico 206L-1, Gumboro Twp, DE, Substantial damage. N98KR a Bell 206L-1 helicopter aircraft was operating under 14 CFR PART137 pilot landed the aircraft on top of a re-supply trailer to reload chemicals and…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 23, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74597. 549 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 263 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318538&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 203 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318550&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Excerpt from POH (item 3, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319113&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20from%20POH-Master.PDF
- Memorandum for Record (NAAA) (item 4, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319114&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20(NAAA)-Master.PDF
- Memorandum for Record (Bell Helicopters) (item 5, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319115&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20(Bell%20Helicopters)-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.