# NTSB SEA00LA092: Sikorsky S-58, N2253A, Buhl, ID, May 25, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 25, 2000, 08:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Buhl, ID - Coordinates: 42.600017, -114.839836 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6000&lon=-114.8398&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 9, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49279 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA00LA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49279/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA092 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate visual lookout, and his failure to maintain adequate clearance from the power lines. The pilot's diverted attention, a dirty windshield, power lines, and light rain were factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, cruise - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - rain (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - window,flight compartment window/windshield - dirty(foggy) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while en route to a field for the aerial application, he was distracted by a radio call from another pilot. The pilot looked down at a map to verify a field location, and when he looked back up, he did not see the power lines that he knew were along his flight path and had flown over on previous flights. After colliding with those power lines, the helicopter pitched nearly straight up, leveled slightly, then fell to the ground in a tail low attitude. A post-crash fire consumed the helicopter. The pilot reported that there were water drops on the windshield, which was dirty, and the sky was overcast, reducing his visibility substantially. ## Factual narrative On May 25, 2000, about 0845 mountain daylight time, a Sikorsky S-58, N2253A, registered to and operated by Thomas Helicopters as a 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight, collided with power wires near Buhl, Idaho. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was destroyed by a post-crash fire. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured. The flight originated from a staging area about five minutes prior to the accident. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he had just taken off from the staging area with 320 gallons of a diluted water mixture that contained 6.25 gallons of a concentrate mixture of Di-Syston 8. The pilot was flying the same flight path to the field as the flight before. This was about the sixth load of the day. The pilot reported that along this flight path, he had to fly over some television and radio antennas, and two sets of power lines. The power lines were the last obstacles along the flight path. The pilot reported that prior to crossing the power lines, he was distracted by a radio call from another pilot. The pilot looked down at a map to verify a field location, and when he looked back up, he did not see anything unusual. The helicopter then collided with the power lines that were the last known obstacles along the flight path. The power lines were approximately 75-100 feet above ground level. After the collision, the helicopter pitched nearly straight up, leveled slightly, then fell to the ground in a tail low attitude. A post-crash fire consumed the helicopter. The pilot reported that just prior to the collision there were water drops on the windshield, which was dirty, and the sky was overcast, reducing his visibility substantially. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2253A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2253A-2000-11-09), registration cancelled 2000-11-09, S/N 148809 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Sikorsky S-58 - Registry model: [Sikorsky S-58](https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-58) (registry code 8141801) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 148809 - Airframe hours: 5582 - Engines: Curtis Wright 1820-84D 1525 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Thomas Helicopters - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 2000, 16 hours before - Departed: BUHL, ID ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 7,970 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 7,775 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: TWF, 22 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 20000525006119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000525006119A), May 25, 2000: Skrsky S58, Buhl, ID, No damage. (-23) The pilot stated he had just completed a turn and was dropping down to make his next pass on the filed he was spraying. He dropped too low and struck the… 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.