- Date
- March 23, 2007, 15:55 local (19:55 UTC)
- Place
- Lewes, DE
- Injuries
- 2 minor, 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N828BABell 206B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 29, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20070323016729A
- Case key
- 65474
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, which resulted in an in flight collision with utility wires during takeoff, and a subsequent impact with terrain.
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 of a Bell 206B helicopter was picking up three passengers at a housing construction site, and taking them to an airport. After the third passenger boarded, the pilot hovered the helicopter, and initiated a takeoff to the southwest over an approximate 300-foot grass area. About 50 feet agl, as the helicopter reached effective translational lift, the pilot lowered the collective and immediately saw a wire stretch across the windscreen and ride upward. The helicopter subsequently impacted the field, rolled left, and came to rest on its left side. During the impact, the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any.
Factual narrative
The pilot of a Bell 206B helicopter stated that she was conducting a charter flight. She was picking up three passengers at a housing construction site, and taking them to an airport. After the third passenger boarded, the pilot hovered the helicopter, and initiated a takeoff to the southwest over an approximate 300-foot grass area. About 50 feet agl, as the helicopter reached effective translational lift, the pilot lowered the collective and immediately saw a wire stretch across the windscreen and ride upward. The helicopter subsequently impacted the field, rolled left, and came to rest on its left side. During the impact, the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N828BA
- Reported as
- Bell 206B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 3426
- Engine
- Rolls-Royce 250, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- Helo Air Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- NONE · Lewes, DE
- Destination
- HEF · Manassas, VA
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- NONE
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
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2
- Last flight review
- February 1, 2007
- Flight hours
- 1,085 total · 258 in this make and model · 649 as pilot in command · 46 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.06 inHg
- Observed at
- GED, 10 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.