- Date
- February 21, 2000, 08:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Byron, CA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N61PCHiller H-12E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 2, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000221012719A
- Case key
- 48703
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 inadequate visual lookout while maneuvering in proximity to wires. A contributing factor was the sun glare, which reduced the wire's conspicuity.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot collided with wires and impacted terrain while maneuvering during a morning aerial application flight. The pilot indicated that the accident could have been prevented had he performed a better reconnaissance of the area, avoided distractions, and approached the wires with the sun at his back.
Factual narrative
On February 21, 2000, about 0830 hours Pacific standard time, a Hiller H-12E, N61PC, operated by Aerial Control, Brentwood, California, collided with wires while maneuvering during an aerial application flight near Byron, California. Thereafter, the helicopter impacted underlying terrain and was substantially damaged. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight was performed under 14 CFR Part 137, and it originated from an open field about 0800.
In the pilot's completed aircraft accident report, he indicated that the accident could have been prevented had he performed a better reconnaissance, avoided distractions, and approached the wires with the sun at his back.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N61PC
- Reported as
- Hiller H-12E
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1309
- Airframe hours
- 10,258
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-540-C2A, 345 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Doff Cooksey
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 17, 2000 · 5 hours before
- Destination
- Victory Island, CA
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
- 53
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane, Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 22,000 total · 2,500 in this make and model · 21,500 as pilot in command · 57 in the last 90 days · 33 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 80° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 129 °F, dew point 115 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SCK, 15 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.
Other investigations on N61PC · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.