# NTSB SEA07LA043: Bell 206B, N1882, Boise, ID, January 7, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 7, 2007, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place: Boise, ID
- Coordinates: 43.592224, -116.058891
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5922&lon=-116.0589&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Boise FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 65120
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07LA043
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65120/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA043

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from tall brush during a low-hover pedal turn. A factor was the six foot-tall brush located adjacent to the area where the pilot was operating.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, hover - in ground effect
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)

## Analysis

After completing two local deer herding flights, the pilot landed the helicopter and waited about five minutes for the ground crew to be ready for him to start another herding flight. At the beginning of the third flight, he lifted off into a hover, and then performed a pedal-turn into the wind prior to entering translational lift.  During the turn, the snow pad on one of the helicopter's skids caught in some tall brush, resulting in a dynamic rollover into the terrain. According to the pilot, there was no problem with the helicopter's flight controls, but he simply failed to see that there was tall brush ( approximately six feet high) behind and to the right of the aircraft.

## Factual narrative

On January 7, 2007, approximately 1145 mountain standard time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N1882, impacted the terrain while in a low hover about 10 miles northeast of Boise, Idaho. The airline transport pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft, which is operated by Idaho Helicopters, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 local deer herding flight, was being conducted in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed.

According to the pilot, after completing two local deer herding flights, he landed the helicopter and waited about five minutes for the ground crew to be ready for him to start another herding flight. At the beginning of the third flight, he lifted off into a hover, and then performed a pedal-turn into the wind prior to entering translational lift. During the turn, the snow pad on one of the helicopter’s skids caught in some tall brush, resulting in a dynamic rollover into the terrain. According to the pilot, there was no problem with the helicopter’s flight controls, but he simply failed to see that there was tall brush ( approximately six feet high) behind and to the right of the aircraft.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1882 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Bell 206B
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 3960
- Airframe hours: 8074
- Engines: Rolls-Royce 250/C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 133
- Operator: Idaho Helicopters
- Registered owner: Allen Noble Farms
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, December 1, 2006
- Departed: Boise, ID

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2006; seat: right; flight hours: 11,389 total, 3,217 in this make and model, 11,389 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 39 °F

## 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 20070107000239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070107000239A), Jan 7, 2007: Bell 206B, Boise, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) After lift off from a non-movement area, the aircraft had a dynamic rollover probably caused by contact with sage brush.

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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