# NTSB ERA22LA347: Bell 206L-3, N203PA, Franklin, PA, July 19, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 19, 2022, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Franklin, PA - Coordinates: 41.400233, -79.853224 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4002&lon=-79.8532&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - 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): 105635 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA347 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105635/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105635 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA347 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate visual lookout while flying at a low level over a river, which resulted in a wire strike. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206L-3, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=1182108), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206L-3, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=1182108), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206L-3, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=1182108), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was flying the helicopter following a river shoreline about 400 ft above ground level. He was scanning the horizon when he saw a “flash” and felt the helicopter shudder. He assessed the controllability of the helicopter and noted no anomalies, therefore, he continued the flight to a nearby airport. After landing, during the post flight examination of the helicopter, he found substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer of the helicopter. Furthermore, there were wire strike marks on the main rotor blade consistent with a wire strike. The operator reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N203PA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N203PA), registered now, S/N 51462, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206L-3 - Registry model: [Bell 206L-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l-3) (registry code 1182108) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C30 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c30-series) (registry code 03015, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 51462 - Year built: 1991 - Airframe hours: 17884.4 - Engines: Rolls Royce Allison M250 C-30 650 hp turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Operator: D H Helicopter Inc DBA - Registered owner: D H Helicopter Inc DBA - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 1, 2022 - Departed: FKL, Franklin, PA - Destination: IDI, Indiana, PA - Equipment: ADS-B, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 24, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 4-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 11 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: FKL, 1 nm away - METAR: KFKL 191556Z AUTO 25011G17KT 10SM SCT034 27/19 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP133 T02720189 ## 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 20220719007699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220719007699A), Jul 19, 2022: Bell 206L-3, Templeton, PA, Minor damage. Note: (the investigation of the aircraft was completed at jimmy stewart airport (kidi) not at the location of the accident. The pilot flew the aircraft here… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105635. 76.7 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=14302218&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA347%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 69.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14295959&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Operator report of accident (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14296812&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Operator%20Report%20of%20Accident_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14296025&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA347%20Photo%20Array-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. --- 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.