Bell 206B N770HP

Summary

On 23 August 2022 at about 19:47 local time, a Bell 206B registered N770HP, operated by Tennessee Dept of Safety, was involved in an accident near Whiteside, Tennessee, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 August 2022 at 19:47

Classification

Accident

Location

Whiteside, Tennessee, United States

Coordinates

34.9975, -85.5098

Aircraft

Bell 206B

Registration

N770HP

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2007

Engines

1

Operator

Tennessee Dept of Safety

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jasper → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA22FA383

2 people died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the powerlines.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and the passenger/observer, who were both law enforcement personnel, were flying in a helicopter on a law enforcement mission when it struck a marked, 1-inch diameter, energized (161K volt) aluminum high-tension powerline cable. The high-tension powerlines were about 430 ft tall and about 3,800 ft long. A witness was driving on a nearby interstate when he observed the helicopter flying low and close to the powerlines. The witness reported that he was concerned the helicopter was going to hit the lines. He described the helicopter as hovering, and it did not appear to be in distress. The witness then saw the helicopter strike the powerlines and observed an “arc.” The helicopter spun a few times as it descended and went out of view. The helicopter came to rest in heavily wooded and steep mountainous terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, main rotor, and tail rotor. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions and failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.