# NTSB GAA18CA424: Bell 206, N39LR, New Castle, IN, July 16, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 16, 2018, 09:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: New Castle, IN - Coordinates: 39.564723, -85.235557 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5647&lon=-85.2356&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 5, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97799 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA424 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97799/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97799 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA424 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to ensure that the fill hose was disconnected from the helicopter before takeoff, which resulted in the fill hose striking the tail rotor and the subsequent loss of tail rotor effectiveness. Contributing to the accident was inadequate communication between the ground crewman and the pilot. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=1182107), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: prop/rotor parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md?model=1182107), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md) - [Communication (organizational): between individuals](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04025010): Organizational issues › Management · Operator (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04025010/cases.md?model=1182107), [All aircraft, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04025010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft servicing event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020/sequence.md?model=1182107), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=1182107), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1182107), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1182107), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=1182107), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the helicopter pilot, during an agricultural flight, he landed on the tender truck platform. The ground crewman connected a hose to fill the hopper, but he did not provide positive communication to the pilot regarding task completion. Consequently, "due to crew miscommunication," the pilot took off with the hose still connected to the helicopter. The tail rotor struck the hose, and the pilot lost tail rotor effectiveness. The helicopter entered an uncontrollable right spin, and the pilot lowered the collective. The helicopter descended, struck the ground, and then rolled over. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom, tail rotor system, main rotor system, and the skids. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by implementing a documented operating procedure to ensure positive communication between the ground crew and pilot. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the helicopter pilot, during an agricultural flight he landed on the tender truck platform. The ground crewman connected a hose to fill the hopper, but he did not provide positive communication to the pilot regarding task completion. Consequently, "due to crew miscommunication" the pilot took off with the hose still connected to the helicopter. The tail rotor struck the hose and the pilot lost tail rotor authority. The helicopter entered an uncontrollable spin to the right, and the pilot lowered the collective. The helicopter descended and struck the ground, and then it rolled over. Additionally, the pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by implementing a documented operating procedure to ensure positive communication between the ground crew and pilot. The helicopter sustained substantial damage the tailboom, tail rotor system, main rotor system and the skids. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N39LR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N39LR), registered now, S/N 45654, built 1981 (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: [Rolls-Royce 250-C30P](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c30p) (registry code 54013, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 45654 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 8318 - Engines: Rolls Royce 259-C30P 600 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Blackstar LLC - Registered owner: Hornet LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2018 - Departed: New Castle, IN - Destination: New Castle, IN - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 19, 2018; seat: front; flight hours: 20,882 total, 810 in this make and model, 20,701 as pilot in command, 67 in the last 90 days, 67 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 5 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 700 ft broken - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KGEZ, 26 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 20180716011349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180716011349A), Jul 16, 2018: Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, New Castle, IN, Destroyed. On July 16, 2018, at approximately 0930 eastern daylight time, a Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 helicopter, N39LR, impacted a corn field near New Castle,… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 22, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97799. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471282&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - AS-INT-018-IHST Checklist (item 2, .PDF, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471283&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20AS-INT-018-IHST%20Checklist-Master.PDF - Photo (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 153 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471284&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.