Bell 206L-3 N955GT

Summary

On 8 December 2010 at about 12:30 local time, a Bell 206L-3 registered N955GT, operated by HMC Helicopter Services Inc, was involved in an accident near Canal Point, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 December 2010 at 12:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Canal Point, Florida, United States

Coordinates

26.8102, -80.6600

Aircraft

Bell 206L-3

Registration

N955GT

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

HMC Helicopter Services Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pahokee → Pahokee

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA11CA082

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the ground while maneuvering at a low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s fatigue.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The purpose of the night helicopter flight was to fly over bean fields to prevent crops from freezing. The pilot was maneuvering the helicopter over the bean field at a low altitude when he observed power lines at the end of the field. He crossed over the power lines and the helicopter subsequently descended to the ground for unknown reasons. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He additionally reported that his own fatigue may have contributed to the accident. The pilot had been awake for 18 hours and 30 minutes and had slept 2 hours prior to the accident. He further stated he had slept 5 hours 30 minutes in the last 24 hours and 14 hours in the last 72 hours.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.