# NTSB WPR12LA036: Bell 206B, N16HA, Woodburn, OR, November 14, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 14, 2011, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Woodburn, OR - Coordinates: 45.136112, -122.823333 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1361&lon=-122.8233&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: External load event (Rotorcraft)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/480) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82305 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82305/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82305 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA036 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain ground clearance while maneuvering with an external load line. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Bell 206B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: External load event (Rotorcraft)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/480) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/480/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/480/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); 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) ## Analysis The pilot was using the helicopter to lift bundles of Christmas trees from a field to a loading zone with a 25-foot-long steel line. Shortly after one of the bundles was picked up, it came apart and fell from the line. As the pilot repositioned the helicopter to reattach the bundle, the line became snagged on an obstacle on the ground. He immediately reached for the line release switch, but the line did not detach, likely because he did not make positive contact with the switch. Before he could activate the manual backup release switch, the helicopter pitched down, descended, and collided with terrain. Postaccident examination of the primary and backup release systems revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Because the helicopter was no more than 25 feet above ground level when the line snagged, even a successful activation of the line release switch may not have prevented the accident. ## Factual narrative On November 14, 2011, about 1430 Pacific standard time a Bell 206B, N16HA, collided with terrain during an external load operation near Woodburn, Oregon. Applebee Aviation was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 133. The commercial pilot was seriously injured. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage and tail boom during the accident sequence. The local flight departed from a road in Oregon City, Oregon, about 2 hours prior to the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that he was lifting bundles of Christmas trees from a field to a loading zone, utilizing a 25-foot-long steel line. Shortly after lifting a load, the bundle came apart and fell from the line. The pilot then lowered the helicopter so ground personable could reattach the bundle, but they had already moved to the next bundle of trees. The pilot then raised the helicopter, and as he did, the line became snagged on an obstacle on the ground. The pilot immediately reached for the line release switch, but the line did not detach. The helicopter pitched down, descended, and collided with terrain. The pilot could not definitively confirm that the release system failed, stating it was possible that he did not make positive contact with the release switch. He further stated that he did not have enough time to engage the manual backup release system. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) examined the helicopter at the accident site. He inspected both the electrically operated release mechanism, and the manual backup release system. No anomalies were found that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N16HA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16HA-2013-05-24), registration cancelled 2013-05-24, S/N 3229, built 1981 (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 SER 250HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (registry code 03002, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3229 - Airframe hours: 14404 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: External load, Part 133 - Operator: Applebee Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Applebee Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 12, 2011, 49 hours before - Departed: Oregon City, OR - Destination: 7S9, Woodburn, OR - Airport: 7S9, Hubbard ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: serious; commercial; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 7, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 800 total, 525 in this make and model, 725 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KUAO, 2 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 20111114026879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111114026879A), Nov 14, 2011: Bell 206B, Woodburn, OR, Substantial damage. The PIC stated he had been having problems with the loads as they were not put together well by the "pickers". Just before the accident the PIC noticed the… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 13, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82305. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371548&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 202 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371822&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photo 1 – Helicopter at Accident Site (item 3, .PDF, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371550&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Helicopter%20at%20Accident%20Site-Master.PDF - Photo 2 – Manual Line Release Handle (item 4, .PDF, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371551&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Manual%20Line%20Release%20Handle-Master.PDF - Photo 3 – Line Release Hook Closed (item 5, .PDF, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371552&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20%E2%80%93%20Line%20Release%20Hook%20Closed-Master.PDF - Photo 4 – Line Release Hook Opened (item 6, .PDF, 119 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371553&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20%E2%80%93%20Line%20Release%20Hook%20Opened-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.