# NTSB ERA11LA083: Bell 206B, N263CH, Isom, KY, December 10, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 10, 2010, 11:55 local (16:55 UTC) - Place: Isom, KY - Coordinates: 37.172222, -82.878051 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1722&lon=-82.8781&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 21, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77979 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11LA083 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77979/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77979 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA083 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a known wire hazard during an aerial observation flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/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: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); 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 During a local aerial power line observation flight, the helicopter impacted the static wire for the power line. The pilot reported that he never lost control of the helicopter, but landed as soon as he could in a parking lot, which was about 1/4 mile from the wire strike. He further stated that prior to the wire strike; there were no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector that responded to the accident site reported that a 12 inch piece of the 7-strand wire remained in the wire cutter located below the main rotor mast. ## Factual narrative On December 10, 2010, about 1155 eastern standard time, a Bell 206B, N263CH, performed an emergency landing next to a roadway after impacting electrical wires near Isom, Kentucky. The helicopter departed from a remote location near Whitesburg, Kentucky, about 1030, for the local aerial powerline observation flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The certificated airline transport pilot received minor injuries and the two passengers were not injured. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the support post around the pilot side door and damage to the fuselage on the front and pilot side of the helicopter. The flight was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135. According to the pilot, he was performing a power line survey flight for charter and also had employees from the power company onboard. The helicopter was cruising "about 60 to 70 knots" when it impacted the static line on top of a powerline. He reported that he never lost control of the helicopter, but put it down as soon as he could in a parking lot, which was about one-quarter mile from the wire strike. He further stated that prior to the wire strike; there were no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records and the pilot, age 56, he held an Airline Transport Pilot and commercial pilot certificates, with ratings for single-engine land, multiengine land, single-engine sea, helicopter, and instrument airplane and helicopter. His most recent FAA second-class medical was issued on November 17, 2010. He reported a flight time of approximately 19,000 total hours of flight experience, 3,750 total hours of flight experience in rotorcraft, and 3,500 total hours of flight experience in the accident helicopter make and model. His most recent flight review was conducted on November 2, 2010. The helicopter was issued an FAA airworthiness certificate on August 22, 1979, and was registered to the accident pilot on May 16, 1997. It had undergone an annual inspection on October 13, 2010 and at the time of the accident had 3,348 total time in service. The 1153 recorded weather observation at Julian Carroll Airport (JKL), Jackson, Kentucky, located approximately 31 miles to the northwest of the accident site included variable winds of 3 knots visibility 10 miles, scattered clouds at 3, 500 feet above ground level, temperature 7 degrees C, dew point minus 7 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 30.14 inches of mercury. The FAA inspector that responded to accident location reported that the helicopter impacted a 3/8 inch diameter, 7-strand wire. A few of the strands were severed by the wire cutter located below the main rotor mast, and a 12 inch piece of strand remained in the wire cutter. One main rotor blade exhibited damage approximately 1 foot from the rotor tip. Control continuity was confirmed to all flight controls and no damage was observed to the landing gear. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N263CH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N263CH), registered now, S/N 2778 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206B - Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2778 - Airframe hours: 3348 - Engines: Rolls-Royce 250-C20B 317 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Albatross Air, Inc. - Registered owner: White Oak Flight Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 13, 2010, 23 hours before - Departed: Whitesburg, KY - Destination: Whitesburg, KY - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: minor; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 2, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 19,000 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 18,800 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: JKL, 31 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 20101210052919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101210052919A), Dec 10, 2010: Bell 206B, Isom, KY, Substantial damage. While conducting powerline survey charter, N263CH was surveying powerlines southbound along a highway when the helicopter struck one of the top two neutural… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 25, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77979. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341501&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340877&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Memorandum For Record - Excerpts from FAA Observations (item 3, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340893&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20-%20Excerpts%20from%20FAA%20Observations-Master.PDF - Jackson Kentucky Weather Observations (item 4, .PDF, 8 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340884&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Jackson%20Kentucky%20Weather%20Observations-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.