Bell UH-1B N508SC

Summary

On 22 May 1989 at about 11:08 local time, a Bell UH-1B registered N508SC, operated by Precision Air Services, Inc., was involved in an accident near Oldtown, Maryland, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 May 1989 at 11:08

Classification

Accident

Location

Oldtown, Maryland, United States

Coordinates

39.5393, -78.6091

Aircraft

Bell UH-1B

Registration

N508SC

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Precision Air Services, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Warrior Mtn → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO89FA033

2 people died.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE OBSTRUCTION (INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE OBSTRUCTION (STATIC WIRES), AND THE LACK OF VISUAL CUES FOR THE PILOT TO DETECT THE WIRES.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE SPRAYING OVER HILLY/WOODED TERRAIN FOR CONTROL OF GYPSY MOTHS, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TWO 3/8 INCH SHIELD CABLES (ATOP A PWR LINE) NEAR THE BOUNDARY OF THE AREA TO BE SPRAYED. WITNESSES SAW SPRAY COMING OUT OF THE SPRAY BOOMSAT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION. THE NOSE OF THE HELICOPTER THEN RAISE UP & FELL TO THE RIGHT BEFORE THE HELICOPTER CRASHEDON THE SIDE OF A HILL. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE HELICOPTER WAS FOUND. THE HELICOPTER WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A WIRE CUTTER KIT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.