Bell 206 N206BX

Summary

On 26 April 2022 at about 11:16 local time, a Bell 206 registered N206BX, operated by Coastal Air Service, Inc, was involved in an accident near Lake Apopka, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 April 2022 at 11:16

Classification

Accident

Location

Lake Apopka, Florida, United States

Coordinates

28.5624, -81.6628

Aircraft

Bell 206

Registration

N206BX

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1979

Engines

1

Operator

Coastal Air Service, Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA22LA206

1 person had minor injuries.

A collision with water following a loss of visual reference to the water surface due to sun glare.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the helicopter departed the landing zone to conduct an aerial application flight over a lake. He stated that he established course on his spray line but “lost sight of everything looking forward due to the glare off the water and the sun position.” He recalled having no depth perception when he looked down at the water and could not recall the helicopter impacting the water but recalled a momentary shudder followed by the helicopter coming to rest inverted. The helicopter’s fuselage, main and tail rotor blades were substantially damaged during the impact. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.