Bell 206-L4 N652HA

Summary

On 29 July 2023 at about 16:06 local time, a Bell 206-L4 registered N652HA was involved in an accident near Springfield, Ohio, 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

29 July 2023 at 16:06

Classification

Accident

Location

Springfield, Ohio, United States

Coordinates

39.8878, -83.7464

Aircraft

Bell 206-L4

Registration

N652HA

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1996

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Springfield → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA23FA317

1 person died.

The pilot’s failure to remain clear of powerlines during an agricultural spraying operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was spraying a cornfield on an east-west pattern when he flew through a set of four high-tension powerlines that ran northeast-southwest through the cornfield. The middle two powerline wires were severed, but the top and bottom wires were not damaged. The helicopter came to rest about 150 ft east of the powerlines. A review of ADS-B data revealed that when the pilot arrived at the cornfield, he circled and flew over the powerlines, indicating that he was likely aware the powerlines would be an obstacle during the spray run. He then made several more spraying passes over the powerlines before the data ended shortly before he impacted the wires. On-scene examination of the wreckage revealed all major components of the helicopter were located at the accident site and that there was no evidence of any preimpact mechanical or malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.