Bell 206 N302MG

Summary

On 19 July 2010 at about 11:55 local time, a Bell 206 registered N302MG, operated by Helicopter Applicators, Inc, was involved in an accident near Roseville, Pennsylvania, 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

19 July 2010 at 11:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Roseville, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

41.0542, -76.8544

Aircraft

Bell 206

Registration

N302MG

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Helicopter Applicators, Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Selinsgrove → Selinsgrove

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA10CA367

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a known wire hazard.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the helicopter stated that he was conducting an aerial application flight over a river. He completed a site survey, noted wires in close proximity to the site, and began application at an altitude of 40 feet. The pilot stated that approximately three quarters of the way across the river, he "momentarily lost sight" of the power lines. The main rotor blades struck the power lines, and the pilot maneuvered the helicopter over a shallow water area. The helicopter lost anti-torque control and the pilot performed a hovering autorotation to the river, where it impacted rocks and rolled to the right. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, fuselage and tail boom. The pilot stated that there were no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the helicopter, and that the accident could have been prevented with a more thorough examination of the spray site and adjustment of the spray pattern.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.