# NTSB ERA12CA304: Bell 206B, N16EP, Hershey, PA, April 27, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 27, 2012, 08:45 local (12:45 UTC) - Place: Hershey, PA - Coordinates: 40.204723, -76.569442 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2047&lon=-76.5694&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 15, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83492 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA304 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83492/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83492 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA304 ## Probable cause The pilot's diverted attention while performing aerial application at low altitude, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to adjust the control friction to the position he was accustomed. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that before the accident flight, there was a trainee pilot in the agricultural application helicopter who preferred no friction on the controls. Once the trainee pilot left, the accident pilot forgot to adjust the control friction. During the accident flight, the helicopter was spraying a wheat field at 55 mph and about 10 feet above the ground. The pilot let go of the collective to adjust the helicopter's computer. The collective subsequently lowered and the helicopter impacted terrain, coming to rest on its side, with the tail boom separated. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have prevented normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that prior to the accident flight, there was a trainee pilot in the agricultural application helicopter, who preferred no friction on the controls. Once the trainee left, the pilot forgot to adjust the control friction. During the accident flight, the helicopter was spraying a wheat field at 55 mph, about 10 feet above the ground. The pilot let go of the collective to adjust the helicopter's "Crophawk" computer. The collective subsequently lowered and the helicopter impacted terrain. The pilot added that there were no preimact mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that during the impact, the tailboom separated and the helicopter came to rest on its right side. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N16EP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16EP-2018-03-20), registration cancelled 2018-03-20, S/N 3081, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206B - Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C20B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20b) (registry code 03081, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3081 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Ag Air LLC - Registered owner: Southern Helicopter Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 29, 2012 - Departed: THV, York, PA - Destination: THV, York, PA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 9, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 4,900 total, 2,900 in this make and model, 4,800 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 14 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,800 ft overcast - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: CXY, 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 20120427008199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120427008199A), Apr 27, 2012: Bell 206B, Elizabethtown, PA, Destroyed. During spray application maneuvering, the pilot (single occupant) became distracted with the electronic spray/navigation equipment and allowed the aircraft to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 13, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83492. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 854 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367373&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Report (item 2, .PDF, 16 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367374&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo: Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 224 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367375&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.