# NTSB WPR14CA041: Bell 206B, N888DR, Superior, MT, November 2, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 2, 2013, 13:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Superior, MT - Coordinates: 47.316665, -115.483329 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3167&lon=-115.4833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration - NTSB case key (mKey): 88375 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA041 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88375/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88375 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA041 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering during a long-line operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/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) - [Equipment/furnishings: agricultural/external load sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022551): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inoperative; cases with it: [Bell 206B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022551/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022551/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: External load event (Rotorcraft)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/480); 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-hover: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of tail rotor effectiveness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: 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 reported that during the last long-line load of the day moving bags of cedar mulch, while on approach to the drop zone, he looked outside at the trees, and did not see any indication of wind; however, he felt a little shudder as the helicopter came out of translational lift. He again looked outside at the trees, and did not see any indication of wind, and continued his approach to the drop zone. Once over the drop zone, as he went to release the bag, he noticed that the remote hook plug had come unplugged. He decided to pick the load back up and move the bag over to the pile of mulch so he could land and manually unhook the bag. When he picked the bag off the ground, the helicopter started to spin to the right, which he was unable to stop. He noticed that the collective was in the full up position so he lowered it to stop the spinning; however, before he could arrest the spinning, the helicopter struck a pile of mulch, and rolled onto its right side, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during the last long-line load of the day moving bags of cedar mulch, while on approach to the drop zone, he looked outside at the trees, and did not see any indication of wind; however, he felt a little shudder as the helicopter came out of translational lift. He again looked outside at the trees, and did not see any indication of wind, and continued his approach to the drop zone. Once over the drop zone, as he went to release the bag, he noticed that the remote hook plug had come unplugged. He decided to pick the load back up and move the bag over to the pile of mulch so he could land and manually unhook the bag. When he picked the bag off the ground, the helicopter started to spin to the right, which he was unable to stop. He noticed that the collective was in the full up position so he lowered it to stop the spinning; however, before he could arrest the spinning, the helicopter struck a pile of mulch, and rolled onto its right side, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N888DR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N888DR-2018-03-30), registration cancelled 2018-03-30, S/N 327, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206B (B) - Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 400HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (registry code 03013, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 327 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 13298 - Engines: ALLISON 250 SER 400HP 400 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 133 - Operator: Montana Aero Inc - Registered owner: Montana Aero Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 2013, 28 hours before - Departed: 90MT, MISSOULA, MT - Destination: Superior, MT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 20, 2013; seat: right; flight hours: 1,150 total, 360 in this make and model, 1,064.6 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.69 inHg - Observed at: MSO, 45 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 20131102020059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131102020059A), Nov 2, 2013: Bell 206B, Superior, MT, Substantial damage. On November 2, 2013, at approximately 1315 MST, a Bell BHT-206-B, N888DR, registered to Montana aero inc. collided with a large bark mulch pile while… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 9, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88375. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404747&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.