- Date
- July 27, 2019, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Dukedom, TN
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N454MSBell 206
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 13, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190727023029A
- Case key
- 99947
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 maintain clearance from wires during an agricultural application flight.
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 pilot reported that, during a low-level agricultural application pass and shortly after he leveled off the helicopter from a turn, the helicopter struck wires and then impacted terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the main and tail rotor systems. The operator 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 an aerial application low pass, shortly after he leveled off the helicopter from a turn, the helicopter struck wires, and impacted terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, main and tail rotor systems. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N454MS
- Reported as
- Bell 206 (B)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1627
- Built
- 1975
- Airframe hours
- 11,744
- Engine
- Allison C-20B-250, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 21, 2019
- Departed
- Dukedom, TN
- Destination
- Dukedom, TN
- Equipment
- Onboard weather, Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS
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
- 31
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 11, 2019
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 1,892 total · 422 in this make and model · 1,052 as pilot in command · 154 in the last 90 days · 127 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 3 knots
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Observed at
- KUCY, 13 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 16, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.2 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.