- Date
- March 29, 2019, 07:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place
- Valley Center, CA
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor; on the ground: 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N83181Bell 206
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Roll over
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 20, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190329002159A
- Case key
- 99195
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 ground crew’s attachment of the load fill hose to the helicopter without telling the pilot, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control during takeoff.
Findings · 2
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, during reloading operations for an agricultural spray flight and while boarding the helicopter, which was positioned on top of the loading truck's platform, he saw that the load fill hose was not connected to the helicopter. However, before starting the helicopter, and unknown to the pilot, the ground crew connected the hose. During takeoff, the helicopter rotated about 180º to the right, the helicopter's right skid struck the truck's hood, and the helicopter then rolled right and impacted terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The helicopter pilot reported that, during the reloading operation for an agricultural spray flight, while boarding the helicopter positioned on top of the truck's platform, he saw that the load fill hose was not connected to the helicopter. However, prior to starting the helicopter, and unknown to the pilot, the groundcrew connected the hose. During takeoff, the helicopter rotated about 180º to the right, the helicopter's right skid struck the hood of the truck, the helicopter rolled to the right and impacted the terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N83181
- Reported as
- Bell 206 (B)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1095
- Built
- 1973
- Airframe hours
- 26,847
- Engine
- Rolls Royce 250c20b, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Hummingbirds Inc
- Registered owner
- Hummingbirds Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · March 15, 2019
- Departed
- Valley Center, CA
- Destination
- Valley Center, CA
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Equipment
- ADS-B
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
- 72
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane, Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 28, 2017
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 25,300 total · 9,000 in this make and model · 24,300 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 37 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.15 inHg
- Observed at
- KRNM, 18 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 16, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.8 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.