# NTSB WPR21LA333: Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, N303AE, Glide, OR, August 27, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 27, 2021, 06:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Glide, OR · Wooded terrain - Coordinates: 43.438748, -122.90996 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4387&lon=-122.9100&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 103789 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA333 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103789/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103789 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA333 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree during an aerial application. ## 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 Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=1182107), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=1182107), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition; cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=1182107), [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: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=1182107), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the helicopter reported that, while conducting an aerial application over an open area, the main rotor blades struck a tree that he had previously not seen. Subsequently, the helicopter began to spin to the left and impacted the terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and tailboom. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N303AE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N303AE), registered now, S/N 45348, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON 206L-1 - Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (registry code 1182107) (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: 45348 - Year built: 1979 - Engines: ALLISON 250 250 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: North Wind Aviation LLC - Registered owner: North Wind Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal - Airport: N/A ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: serious; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 29,000 total, 140,016 in this make and model, 27,000 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KRBG, 23 nm away - METAR: KRBG 271322Z AUTO 35009KT 10SM SCT015 OVC030 17/12 A3009 RMK AO2 T01720122 ## 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 20210827008709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210827008709A), Aug 27, 2021: Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, Glide, OR, Substantial damage. Helicopter struck tree with rotor blade, lost control and crashed during a low level 137 spray operation. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 9, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103789. 8.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 7.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12965883&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12965893&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20pilot-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12965238&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%201-Rel.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.