# NTSB FTW01LA004: Bell 206-L1, N321CA, Jasper, TX, October 2, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 2, 2000, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Jasper, TX - Coordinates: 30.769697, -94.41999 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7697&lon=-94.4200&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 8, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50387 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW01LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50387/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA004 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his failure to maintain control of the helicopter. Factors were the fog and the pilot's lack of instrument flight experience. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he waited for the fog to lift, departed, and sprayed a field. The pilot then landed the helicopter to refuel prior to spraying another field located approximately 17 miles away. The pilot departed and was flying to the other field when he encountered IMC at a low altitude. The pilot initiated a turn to the left to exit IMC and attempted to cage his attitude indicator. During this time, the helicopter impacted a tree with its spray boom and the pilot then ascended into the fog. The pilot reported that the helicopter was difficult to control and he was having problems seeing the ground. The pilot reported to the ground crew that he was losing control of the helicopter and subsequently it impacted the trees. Witnesses, located approximately 50 yards from the accident site, stated that it was 'very foggy' at the time of the accident. The pilot had accumulated 10 hours of simulated instrument flying and no actual instrument flying experience. At the time of the accident, a weather observation facility located near the accident site reported the sky as overcast at 100 feet agl, with 1.25 statute miles visibility. ## Factual narrative On October 2, 2000, at 0900 central daylight time, a Bell 206L-1 helicopter, N321CA, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain while maneuvering near Jasper, Texas. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Chem Air, Inc., of Shreveport, Louisiana. The non-instrument rated commercial helicopter pilot, who was the sole occupant, was seriously injured. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The helicopter departed from a field approximately 0830. The pilot stated that he waited for the fog to lift, departed, and sprayed a field. The pilot then landed to refuel with his ground crew prior to spraying another field located approximately 17 miles away. The pilot departed and was flying to the other field when he encountered IMC at a low altitude. The pilot initiated a turn to the left to exit IMC and attempted to cage his attitude indicator. During this time, the helicopter impacted a tree with its spray boom, and the pilot then ascended into the fog. The pilot reported that the helicopter was difficult to control and he was having problems seeing the ground. The pilot reported to the ground crew that he was losing control of the helicopter. Subsequently the helicopter impacted the trees. Witnesses, located approximately 50 yards from the accident site, stated that they heard the helicopter fly over their house "very low." They then heard some "loud banging noises and then the helicopter noise disappeared." The witnesses assumed that the helicopter had crashed and went outside to render aid. The witnesses said that they called for the pilot and got a reply. The witnesses found the helicopter and the pilot in a heavily wooded area near their house. They added that they could hear the engine spooling down as they neared the accident site. One of the witnesses reported that it was "very foggy" at the time of the accident. At 0855, the weather observation facility at the A.L. Mangham Jr. Regional Airport, located in Nacogdoches, Texas, 45 miles northwest of the accident site, reported the sky as overcast at 100 feet agl, with 1.25 statute miles visibility. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the 22,911-hour pilot had accumulated 10 hours of simulated instrument flying, and no actual instrument flight experience. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N321CA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N321CA-2002-07-25), registration cancelled 2002-07-25, S/N 45214, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 206-L1 - Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (registry code 1182107) (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: 45214 - Airframe hours: 11427 - Engines: Allison 250-C28B 435 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Chem Air, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 22, 2000, 30 hours before - Departed: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 22,911 total, 2,661 in this make and model, 22,210 as pilot in command, 251 in the last 90 days, 78 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 5 knots - Visibility: 1.25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 100 ft overcast - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: OCH, 45 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 20001002015879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001002015879A), Oct 2, 2000: Bell 206L1, Jasper, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot took off without energizing attitude and directional gyros. Encountered haze intensified by early morning sun. Inadvertently struck a tree with the… 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.