# NTSB NYC08CA309: Bell 206B, N206WA, Eutaw, AL, September 9, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 9, 2008, 09:10 local (14:10 UTC) - Place: Eutaw, AL - Coordinates: 32.855278, -87.879165 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8553&lon=-87.8792&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 22, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68900 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08CA309 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68900/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=68900 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA309 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Communication (personnel): accuracy of communication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063515): Personnel issues › Task performance · Ground crew; cases with it: [Bell 206B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063515/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063515/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot landed the Bell 206B helicopter and was preparing for the ninth aerial agricultural application flight of the day. Ground personnel added fuel and chemical to the helicopter in preparation for the flight. The normal process for refueling was for one person to be in the fuel truck and one person on the ground near the helicopter. When the fuel tank was full, the person at the helicopter gives a "thumbs up" to the person in the truck, who turns off the valve. After disconnecting the hose from the helicopter, the person at the helicopter gives another "thumbs up" to the pilot, and the pilot should then verify the hose has been disconnected from the helicopter. When the helicopter requires the loading of both chemical and fuel, the number of hand signals doubles. During the accident sequence, the pilot saw the ground person give a "thumbs up" and turn away from the helicopter. He assumed the hose had been disconnected, but did not visually verify that it had. As he lifted the helicopter to a hover, it pitched down, rolled to the right, and contacted the ground, substantially damaging the fuselage and tail boom. The person on the ground reported he "mistakenly gave the all clear signal" before the hose was disconnected. ## Factual narrative The pilot landed the Bell 206B helicopter, and was preparing for the ninth aerial agricultural application flight of the day. Ground personnel added fuel and chemical to the helicopter, in preparation for the flight. The normal process for refueling was for one person to be in the fuel truck and one person on the ground near the helicopter. When the fuel tank was full, the person at the helicopter gives a "thumbs up" to the person in the truck, who turns off the valve. After disconnecting the hose from the helicopter, the person at the helicopter gives another "thumbs up" to the pilot, and the pilot should then verify the hose has been disconnected from the helicopter. When the helicopter requires the loading of both chemical and fuel, the number of hand signals doubles. During the accident sequence, the pilot saw the ground person give a "thumbs up" and turn away from the helicopter. He assumed the hose had been disconnected, but did not visually verify that it had. As he lifted the helicopter to a hover, it pitched down, rolled to the right, and contacted the ground, substantially damaging the fuselage and tail boom. The person on the ground reported he "mistakenly gave the all clear signal" before the hose was disconnected. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N206WA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N206WA), registered now, S/N 3037, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206B - Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C20 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (registry code 03020, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3037 - Airframe hours: 9464 - Engines: Allison 250-C20 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Chem Air Inc - Registered owner: Chem Air Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 1, 2008 - Departed: Eutaw, AL - Destination: Eutaw, AL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 21,037 total, 10,000 in this make and model, 20,737 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: BHM, 30 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 20080909849209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080909849209A), Sep 9, 2008: Bell 206B, Eutaw, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot landed his helicopter on the ground next to the servicing truck. This truck contained both the chemical and fuel. The pilot requested fuel in… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 19, 2008, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=68900. 951 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 692 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40304254&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40304256&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Statements (item 3, .PDF, 185 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40304257&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statements-Redacted.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.