# NTSB SEA93LA056: Bell 206B3, N39088, Brigham City, UT, January 24, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 24, 1993, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Brigham City, UT
- Coordinates: 41.510787, -112.039253 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5108&lon=-112.0393&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 13, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42979
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA93LA056
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42979/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93LA056

## 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

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

- In flight collision with object, taxi - aerial
  - object - wire,transmission (cause)
  - expectancy, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,obstruction marking - inadequate (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - object - building(nonresidential) (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
- Roll over, descent - uncontrolled

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B3
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 3277
- Airframe hours: 405
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 37; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19930124000829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930124000829A), Jan 24, 1993: Bell 206B3, Brigham City, UT, Substantial damage. Landed on fuel ramp. No fuel. Hover taxied to hanger. Hit unmarked wires above taxiway. Dark, rotors blowing snow.

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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