# NTSB WPR09CA338: Bell 206B, N302PD, Burlington, WA, July 11, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 11, 2009, 11:34 local (18:34 UTC) - Place: Burlington, WA - Coordinates: 48.520832, -122.464996 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5208&lon=-122.4650&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Inflight upset](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/271) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74259 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA338 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74259/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74259 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA338 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter while attempting to lift off from a trailer. The helicopter subsequently impacted the ground and rolled over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Inflight upset](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/271) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/271/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/271/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was returning from an aerial application flight in the local area. As he neared the flatbed trailer that he intended to utilize as his landing zone, he noticed that there was a right crosswind of about 5 knots. Just prior to touchdown he felt the helicopter move to the left and subsequently contact the trailer. He attempted to lift off from the trailer by adding right cyclic and increasing the collective. The helicopter rolled to the right, resulting in the main rotor blades contacting the ground and substantial damage to the main rotor assembly, tail rotor assembly, and the tail boom. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter. ## Factual narrative In a written statement, the pilot reported that he was returning from an aerial application flight in the local area. As he neared the flatbed trailer that he intended to utilize as his landing zone, he noticed that there was a right crosswind of about 5 knots. Just prior to touchdown he felt the helicopter move to the left and subsequently contact the trailer. He attempted to lift off from the trailer by adding right cyclic and increasing the collective. The helicopter rolled to the right, resulting in the main rotor blades contacting the ground. The main rotor blades then impacted the tail boom resulting in its separation from the fuselage. The helicopter came to rest on its right side in a nose high attitude. Examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor assembly, tail rotor assembly, and tail boom. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N302PD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N302PD-2013-08-21), registration cancelled 2013-08-21, S/N 3801, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206B - Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C20 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (registry code 03020, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3801 - Airframe hours: 14493 - Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 SER 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Farm & Forest Helicopter Service Inc - Registered owner: Farm & Forest Helicopter Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 15, 2009, 61 hours before - Departed: Burlington, WA - Destination: Burlington, WA - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: KBVS, Skagit Regional Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 8, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 474 total, 80 in this make and model, 399 as pilot in command, 73 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KBVS, 3 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 20090711011739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090711011739A), Jul 11, 2009: Bell 206B, Burlington, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) After completing a 300 acre spray job at 5 locations. [privacy data omitted] Was positioning the helicopter on a trailer with a right cross wind of 5… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 24, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74259. 807 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 807 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316034&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.