Bell 206B-3 N47MA

Summary

On 13 September 1996 at about 19:56 local time, a Bell 206B-3 registered N47MA, operated by U.s. Forest Service, was involved in an accident near St Regis, Montana, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 September 1996 at 19:56

Classification

Accident

Location

St Regis, Montana, United States

Coordinates

47.3092, -115.1396

Aircraft

Bell 206B-3

Registration

N47MA

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

U.s. Forest Service

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

St. Regis → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA96TA213

Nobody was injured.

failure of the pilot to maintain clearance from electrical transmission lines. The proximity of transmission lines was a related factor.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter sustained substantial damage when it struck wires during a fire suppression activity for the U.S. Forest Service. The pilot reported that his water bucket malfunctioned on his seventh load, while performing fire suppression, and he was unable to drop its water. On his way back to the helibase, he diverted from a direct return. He reported that he descended and circled with the intention of putting his bucket down on an abandoned railroad grade to tip it over and empty it. An eyewitness advised that the pilot appeared to be descending and circling to fill his bucket in a pond just across the railroad grade. About 80 feet above the pond, the helicopter struck a powerline with the main rotor blades, severing three conductors of a main distribution line. About 80 feet further west along the powerline, the main rotor blades severed the messenger wire in two places, about 12 feet apart. The helicopter remained controllable and the pilot continued a right turn, descending to a landing on the railroad grade.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.