Bell 206 N167AG

Summary

On 17 October 2019 at about 19:38 local time, a Bell 206 registered N167AG, operated by Vertical Flight Technologies, was involved in an accident near New Salem, North Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 October 2019 at 19:38

Classification

Accident

Location

New Salem, North Carolina, United States

Coordinates

35.1492, -80.3622

Aircraft

Bell 206

Registration

N167AG

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1974

Engines

1

Operator

Vertical Flight Technologies

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Albemarle → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA20FA012

1 person died.

The pilot's inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in impact with a powerline.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting an aerial application flight in the helicopter. During the relocation flight from the previous site, the pilot overflew the application area and a powerline before landing on a truck near the northwest end of the field to refill the helicopter’s chemical reservoir. A witness described a normal liftoff and departure from the truck. The helicopter proceeded north along the west side of the field before turning south, then he heard a “pop” that he attributed to the helicopter striking a powerline wire before he saw the helicopter descend and impact the field. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed that a section of a nearby powerline was entangled with the main and tail rotor drive systems, consistent with the helicopter having struck those wires.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.