# NTSB ERA22LA206: Bell 206, N206BX, Lake Apopka, FL, April 26, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 26, 2022, 07:16 local (11:16 UTC)
- Place: Lake Apopka, FL
- Coordinates: 28.562433, -81.66275 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5624&lon=-81.6628&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA - FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105003
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA206
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105003/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105003
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA206

## Probable cause

A collision with water following a loss of visual reference to the water surface due to sun glare.

## Findings

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

- [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)
- [Perception/orientation/illusion: visual illusion/disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015/cases.md)
- [Light condition: glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/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: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the helicopter departed the landing zone to conduct an aerial application flight over a lake. He stated that he established course on his spray line but “lost sight of everything looking forward due to the glare off the water and the sun position.” He recalled having no depth perception when he looked down at the water and could not recall the helicopter impacting the water but recalled a momentary shudder followed by the helicopter coming to rest inverted. The helicopter’s fuselage, main and tail rotor blades were substantially damaged during the impact. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N206BX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N206BX), registered now, S/N 2872, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206 (B)
- 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: 2872
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 12575
- Engines: Rolls Royce M250C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Coastal Air Service, Inc
- Registered owner: Coastal Helicopters Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2022, 21 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; injuries: minor; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 22, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 10,725 total, 3,087 in this make and model, 6,777 as pilot in command, 148 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observed at: ORL, 17 nm away
- METAR: KORL 261153Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 21/18 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP212 T02110178 10211 20183 53006

## 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 20220426002649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220426002649A), Apr 26, 2022: Bell 206B, Winter Garden, FL, Substantial damage. On 04/26/2022 at 0720 an aircraft performing aerial spraying of herbicide at lake apopka, Florida, contacted the lake nose down, causing the aircraft to flip…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 10, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105003. 3.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13831379&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N206BX%20-%20NTSB%206120_N206BX_Docket_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14292008&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20-%20ERA22LA206-Rel.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.

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