# NTSB WPR13LA287: Bell 206B, N407FK, Royal City, WA, June 24, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 24, 2013, 07:40 local (14:40 UTC) - Place: Royal City, WA - Coordinates: 46.966945, -119.776107 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9669&lon=-119.7761&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 10, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 87282 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13LA287 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87282/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87282 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA287 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from netting material during a low pass over trees, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/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) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Bell 206B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Bell 206B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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: 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) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); 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) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was drying a cherry tree orchard covered in netting material. During a low pass, he noted that the helicopter's skid was closer to the netting than he had anticipated, and, before he could adjust, the skid hooked the netting. The pilot was unable to maintain control as the helicopter rolled, and it subsequently struck the ground inverted. The orchard was sloped, which likely made it difficult for the pilot to adequately judge the helicopter's height above the trees. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On June 24, 2013, about 0740 Pacific daylight time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N407FK, sustained substantial damage after it became entangled in netting during cherry tree drying operations near Royal City, Washington. The pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured. The helicopter was registered to Wilber-Ellis Company, and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which originated from Royal City, Washington. No flight plan was filed for the local flight. The pilot reported that he was drying a cherry tree field, which was covered in a netting material, in a south to north pattern. The northern end of the field was a higher elevation than the southern end. The pilot was flying as close as he could to the cherry trees and he observed that the helicopter's skid was closer to the netting than anticipated. Before he could adjust, the skid hooked the netting; subsequently, the helicopter rolled, and struck the ground inverted. The pilot reported that he felt fatigued during the accident flight. He also reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N407FK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N407FK-2013-09-20), registration cancelled 2013-09-20, S/N 4061, built 1989 (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: 4061 - Airframe hours: 2961 - Engines: Allison 250-C20J 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Wilbur-Ellis CO - Registered owner: Wilbur-Ellis CO - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 16, 2013, 24 hours before - Departed: Royal City, WA - Destination: Royal City, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: serious; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 26, 2013; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 245 total, 32 in this make and model, 173 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 900 ft overcast - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.62 inHg - Observed at: MWH, 23 nm away ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 8, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87282. 6.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 651 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397861&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40403269&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photo 1: On Scene Image - Overall View of Helicopter (item 3, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40403493&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20On%20Scene%20Image%20-%20Overall%20View%20of%20Helicopter-Master.PDF - Photo 2: On Scene Image - Closer view of Tailrotor Assembly (item 4, .PDF, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40403495&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20On%20Scene%20Image%20-%20Closer%20view%20of%20Tailrotor%20Assembly-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.