# NTSB NYC08LA050: Bell 206-L4, N95CH, Talladega, AL, December 1, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 1, 2007, 13:10 local (19:10 UTC)
- Place: Talladega, AL
- Coordinates: 33.422779, -86.936111
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4228&lon=-86.9361&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67190
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08LA050
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67190/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08LA050

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a wire.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, takeoff
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - wire,static

## Analysis

The pilot performed an off-airport landing in the helicopter, to pick up a patient for transport to a nearby hospital. During the subsequent takeoff, the helicopter's tail rotor struck a wire that was located about 30 feet above the ground, oriented perpendicular to its flight path. The pilot immediately landed without further incident. Neither the pilot, nor the crew were previously informed of the wire, which was not observed until just prior to contact. The helicopter sustained damage to the tail rotor, vertical stabilizer, and left aft storage compartment door.

## Factual narrative

On December 1, 2007, about 1310 central standard time, a Bell 206-L4 helicopter, N95CH, was substantially damaged when it struck a wire during takeoff from a field in Talladega, Alabama. The certificated commercial pilot, two crew members, and a passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the planned flight to a hospital in Ironton, Alabama. The air ambulance flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135.

According to the operator, the flight previously departed from Anniston, Alabama, and the pilot performed an off-airport landing to pick up a patient for transport to a nearby hospital. During the subsequent takeoff, the helicopter's tail rotor struck a wire that was located about 30 feet above the ground, oriented perpendicular to its flight path. The pilot immediately landed without further incident. Neither the pilot, nor the crew were previously informed of the wire, which was not observed until just prior to contact.

The helicopter sustained damage to the tail rotor, vertical stabilizer, and left aft storage compartment door.

The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the helicopter. He reported 11,166 hours of total rotorcraft flight experience, which included 480 hours in the same make and model as the accident helicopter.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N95CH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Bell 206-L4
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 52195
- Airframe hours: 6519
- Engines: Rolls-Royce 250-C30P 600 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Omniflight Helicopters, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, November 1, 2007, 56 hours before
- Departed: NONE, Talladega, AL
- Destination: Ironton, AL
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2007; seat: right; flight hours: 11,166 total, 480 in this make and model, 9,516 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observed at: ANB, 12 nm away

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.

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