- Date
- July 6, 2017, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Dixon, KY
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8159JBell 206
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of tail rotor effectiveness
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 15, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- FAA report
- 20170706010559A
- Case key
- 95519
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to see and avoid power lines while maneuvering at a low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to adequately identify hazards to flight during agricultural application operation planning.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The helicopter pilot reported that he was maneuvering at low altitude during an agricultural application flight. While in a left turn, he did not see the power lines until they were very close. He increased the collective to climb, and he banked right to avoid impact. However, the tail rotor struck the power lines, and the helicopter lost tail rotor effectiveness. The pilot conducted an autorotation and landed the helicopter, but the tailboom impacted trees. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor gear box, the tail rotor blades, and the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The helicopter pilot reported that he was maneuvering at low altitude during an agricultural application flight. While in a left turn he did not see the power line wires until they were very close. He increased the collective to climb and he banked right to avoid impact. However, the tail rotor struck the power line wires and the helicopter lost tail rotor effectiveness. The pilot autorotated and the helicopter landed, but the tailboom impacted trees. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor gear box, the tail rotor blades and the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8159J
- Reported as
- Bell 206 (B)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 512
- Built
- 1970
- Airframe hours
- 15,775
- Engine
- Rolls-Royc 250-C20, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Forming Agrotors Inc
- Registered owner
- Forming Agrotors Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 18, 2017
- Departed
- Dixon, KY
- Destination
- Dixon, KY
- Equipment
- Unknown
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 26
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 14, 2016
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 1,710 total · 1,204 in this make and model · 1,572 as pilot in command · 163 in the last 90 days · 63 in the last 30 days · 9 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- KRPJ, 17 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.7 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N8159J · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.