Bell 206L-3 N203PA

Summary

On 19 July 2022 at about 16:00 local time, a Bell 206L-3 registered N203PA, operated by D H Helicopter Inc DBA, was involved in an accident near Franklin, Pennsylvania, United States. 2 people were 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 2022 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Franklin, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

41.4002, -79.8532

Aircraft

Bell 206L-3

Registration

N203PA

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1991

Engines

1

Operator

D H Helicopter Inc DBA

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Ferry

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Franklin → Indiana

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA22LA347

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s inadequate visual lookout while flying at a low level over a river, which resulted in a wire strike.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was flying the helicopter following a river shoreline about 400 ft above ground level. He was scanning the horizon when he saw a “flash” and felt the helicopter shudder. He assessed the controllability of the helicopter and noted no anomalies, therefore, he continued the flight to a nearby airport. After landing, during the post flight examination of the helicopter, he found substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer of the helicopter. Furthermore, there were wire strike marks on the main rotor blade consistent with a wire strike. The operator reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.