- Date
- August 18, 1985, 09:12 local (13:12 UTC)
- Place
- Hawley, PA
- Injuries
- 5 minor, 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N100FHBell BH206L-1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850818039119A
- Case key
- 35949
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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.
In flight collision with object
Object - wire,transmissionFactor
Visual lookout - inadequateCause
Preflight planning/preparation - inadequateCause
Loss of control - in flight
Rotor system - deterioratedFactor
In flight collision with terrain/water
Analysis
The helicopter arrived at a private residence to transport race car drivers to the pocono raceway. During departure the pilot failed to see powerlines in the flight path that contacted the main rotor system. The main rotor system failed and the helicopter impacted trees and the ground. The occupants deplaned without assistance.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N100FH
- Reported as
- Bell BH206L-1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 45357
- Airframe hours
- 1,628
- Engine
- Allison 250-C28B, 435 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Fleet Helicopter
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 12, 1985 · 105 hours before
- Departed
- Hawley, PA
- Destination
- Pocono Race Tr., PA
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 41
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 14,317 total · 181 in this make and model · 13,902 as pilot in command · 253 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.