Bell 206B-III N1069Z

Summary

On 9 May 2012 at about 12:50 local time, a Bell 206B-III registered N1069Z, operated by Townsend Aviation Inc, was involved in an accident near Flora, Indiana, 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

9 May 2012 at 12:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Flora, Indiana, United States

Coordinates

40.4856, -86.5453

Aircraft

Bell 206B-III

Registration

N1069Z

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Townsend Aviation Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Monticello → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12LA282

Nobody was injured.

The pilot allowed the helicopter to settle with power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot approached the field he intended to spray from the northeast at a 45-degree angle. He made a gradual climbing left turn to align the helicopter for a spray run to the east, climbing to an altitude of about 100 feet above ground level and slowing to about 40 mph. The wind was from about 300 degrees at 10 mph. As he made the turn, the wind became a tailwind. The helicopter began to descend and settle with power. The pilot maintained a level attitude while attempting to gain airspeed. The helicopter impacted the ground in a level attitude on an easterly heading. The main rotor blades flexed down and severed the tail boom. The helicopter nosed over and came to rest on its right side facing west.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.