- Date
- January 24, 1993, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Brigham City, UT
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N39088Bell 206B3
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 13, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930124000829A
- Case key
- 42979
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The location of unmarked electrical transmission wires over a designated airport taxiway. Factors relating to the accident were the pilot's lack of expectancy to encounter wires above an arpt taxiway, and his diverted attention due to the close proximity of the taxiway to buildings and the loose dry snow on the airport.
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.
Analysis
The pilot landed on the airport ramp to refuel and determined the public fuel service facility was not operating. He arranged to purchase fuel from a private opr and was hover taxiing about 400 feet from the ramp to a private hanger when the acft impacted unmarked electrical power lines 30 ft above a designated taxiway. The acft impacted on the taxiway in an uncontrolled descent and rolled over. The taxiway, located beside a hanger, and the ramp were covered with loose dry snow. The wx was dark overcast skies and limited visibility.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N39088
- Reported as
- Bell 206B3
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 3277
- Airframe hours
- 405
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20B, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry · Part 91
- Operator
- South Coast Helicopters
- Registered owner
- Charles Easton
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 18, 1993 · 5 hours before
- Airport
- BMC · Brigham City
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 3,623 total · 1,300 in this make and model · 3,532 as pilot in command · 56 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 40° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 27 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.