# NTSB ERA13LA236: Bell 206B, N94PH, Hartford, KY, May 10, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 10, 2013, 18:42 local (23:42 UTC) - Place: Hartford, KY - Coordinates: 37.503887, -87.000274 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5039&lon=-87.0003&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86863 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13LA236 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86863/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86863 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA236 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to avoid a powerline that crossed a field that he was spraying. Contributing to the collision was the company’s failure to specifically mention that flight hazards be identified during a pre-work conference. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md) - [Policy/procedure: adequacy of policy/proc](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021015): Organizational issues › Management · Operator (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021015/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 106 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021015/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) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); 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 Before spraying a tract, the pilot circled it three times to look for lines, obstructions, houses, and people and to develop a plan to spray the field. He completed two spray passes, and during the third spray pass, he heard a “pop” sound and saw “the lines” as they contacted the windscreen. The helicopter was controllable for a “brief moment,” but it then yawed slowly to the right and slightly down at which point all control was lost. The helicopter continued to rotate clockwise and veered to the right, then impacted the ground on the left side. The pilot reported that there was no preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction with the helicopter or its systems, and that during his three orbits of the tract, he did not identify the power line that he subsequently contacted. While the company policy and procedures manual specified that the pilot identify potential problem areas or miscommunications, it did not specify that flight hazards be identified during the pre-work conference. Postaccident, the operator changed its policy and procedures manual and specifically stated that flight hazards be identified during the pre-work conference before spraying a tract. ## Factual narrative On May 10, 2013, about 1842 central daylight time, a Bell 206B, N94PH, registered to and operated by Provine Helicopter Service, Inc., collided with a powerline then the ground during an aerial application flight near Hartford, Kentucky. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 137 flight. The helicopter sustained substantial damage and the commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 5 minutes earlier from a location immediately adjacent to the accident site. The pilot stated that he took the final load of chemical to complete the current tract, or field. He circled over it 3 times looking for lines, obstructions, houses and people and to develop a plan to spray the field. He completed 2 spray passes and during the 3rd spray pass, he heard a “pop” sound and saw “…the lines” as they contacted the windscreen. The helicopter was controllable for a, “brief moment” but it then yawed slowly to the right and slightly down at which point all control was lost. The helicopter continued to rotate clockwise and veered to the right, then impacted the ground on the left side. He reported there was no preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction with the helicopter or its systems. The company Policy and Procedures Manual in effect at the time of the accident specifies major duties and responsibilities of the pilot, which included information that a pre-work conference be conducted before application to each tract being sprayed. The pre-work conference specifies that the tract representative, “turn key”, ground crew, and pilot agree on and understand the weather conditions, locations of the tract and boundaries, products being applied and their rates, landing zones, adjacent landowners, and potential problem area or miscommunication. However, nowhere in the duties and responsibilities is it spelled out specifically that potential flight hazards be identified during the pre-work conference. Postaccident, the operator changed the Policy and Procedures Manual to specify that all involved personnel involved identify flight hazards during the pre-work conference. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N94PH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N94PH-2013-07-16), registration cancelled 2013-07-16, S/N 2809, built 1979 (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-C20 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (registry code 03020, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2809 - Airframe hours: 13635 - Engines: Rolls-Royce 250-C20 317 hp turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Provine Helicopter Service Inc - Registered owner: Provine Helicopter Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 3, 2013 - Departed: Hartford, KY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 8, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 2,000 total, 320 in this make and model, 1,870 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: OWB, 16 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 20130510024819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130510024819A), May 10, 2013: Bell 206B, Hartford, KY, Substantial damage. The aircraft a power line and the ground during an aerial application flight. Weather had included low clouds, poor visibility, and periods of heavy rain and… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 3, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86863. 4.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392853&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 14 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392646&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Excerpts from Maintenance Records (item 3, .PDF, 377 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392889&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20Maintenance%20Records-Redacted.PDF - Record of NTSB Conversations (item 4, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393232&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20NTSB%20Conversations-Redacted.PDF - Excerpts from Policy and Procedures Manual in Effect at the Time of the Accident (item 5, .PDF, 181 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393492&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20Policy%20and%20Procedures%20Manual%20in%20Effect%20at%20the%20Time%20of%20the%20Accident-Master.PDF - Excerpts from Policy and Procedures Manual Depicting Changes Made PostAccident (item 6, .PDF, 216 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393493&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20Policy%20and%20Procedures%20Manual%20Depicting%20Changes%20Made%20PostAccident-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Document Provided by Pilot Depicting the Field Being Sprayed, the Location of the Impacted Powerline, and the Crash Site Locations. (item 7, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392647&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Document%20Provided%20by%20Pilot%20Depicting%20the%20Field%20Being%20Sprayed,%20the%20Location%20of%20the%20Impacted%20Powerline,%20and%20the%20Crash%20Site%20Locations.-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Digital Photograph Provided by Bell Helicopter Flight Safety Data Analyst. View Depicting the Helicopter at the Resting Point. (item 8, .PDF, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392877&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Digital%20Photograph%20Provided%20by%20Bell%20Helicopter%20Flight%20Safety%20Data%20Analyst.%20View%20Depicting%20the%20Helicopter%20at%20the%20Resting%20Point.-Master.PDF - Photo 3: Digital Photograph Provided by Bell Helicopter Flight Safety Data Analyst. View Depicting the Location of the Wire Contacted by the Helicopter. (item 9, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392882&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Digital%20Photograph%20Provided%20by%20Bell%20Helicopter%20Flight%20Safety%20Data%20Analyst.%20View%20Depicting%20the%20Location%20of%20the%20Wire%20Contacted%20by%20the%20Helicopter.-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.