# NTSB WPR11LA016: Bell 206B, N2763M, Auburn, CA, October 14, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 14, 2010, 15:17 local (22:17 UTC) - Place: Auburn, CA - Coordinates: 38.983333, -121.166664 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9833&lon=-121.1667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 77585 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11LA016 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77585/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77585 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA016 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a transmission line during flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff for the repositioning flight, and while transitioning along a canyon, he felt a vibration through the helicopter. The pilot initiated an autorotation and landed on a downsloping dirt road. The helicopter rolled over, coming to rest on its right side. Postaccident examination revealed that the helicopter impacted an unmarked transmission line. The line spanned an 800-foot gap across a small divide from a fenced electric substation to a power pole on a high outcropping. The pilot and passenger did not see the line at any time during the flight. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter prior to the vibration. ## Factual narrative On October 14, 2010, at 1517 Pacific daylight time, a Bell 206B, N2763M, rolled onto its side following an autorotation at the base of Auburn Dam, Auburn, California. Whirl Wide, Inc. dba TGR Helicopters, was operating the helicopter as a repositioning flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured. The helicopter was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed from PG & E Auburn Service Center Heliport, Auburn, about 1515, and was being repositioned to Mother Lode Service Center Heliport, Angels Camp, California. The pilot reported that he was transitioning along the west canyon wall of American River Canyon to reposition the helicopter when it experienced a violent vertical vibration at 150 feet. The pilot entered an autorotation and landed on a downsloping dirt road. The helicopter rolled over and came to rest on its right side. The pilot and passenger did not see any transmission lines along their route of flight. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter prior to the vertical vibration. California State Parks personnel indicated that the helicopter came to rest on a road below the Auburn, California dam. The helicopter came to rest on its right side, facing southeast and the tail section was separated. Additional investigation revealed that there was a downed power line owned by Placer County Water Agency (PCWA). The unmarked line was a power supply for a temporary pumping station that was used during the construction of the PCWA Pump Station that began in 2003. The line spanned an 800-foot gap across a small divide from a fenced electric substation to a power pole on a high outcropping to the east. The line was removed following the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2763M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2763M-2018-01-17), registration cancelled 2018-01-17, S/N 2646 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206B - Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2646 - Airframe hours: 12583 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250-C20B 400 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Whirlwide Inc, doing business as TGR Helicopters - Registered owner: Tgr Helicopters - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 3, 2010, 74 hours before - Departed: 47CN, Auburn, CA - Destination: 16CL, Angels Camp, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 2, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 3,470 total, 270 in this make and model, 3,405 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KAUB, 15 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 20101014048889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101014048889A), Oct 14, 2010: Bell 206B, Auburn, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft struck powerlines and experienced severe vibrations. Pilot executed a precationary landing. The aircraft came to rest on its side and was substanially… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 18, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77585. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 409 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338207&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345680&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - State Parks Record of Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345010&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=State%20Parks%20Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Accident Photographs (2 embedded photos) (item 4, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345701&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photographs%20(2%20embedded%20photos)-Master.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.