Bell 206 N49651
7 August 1990 · Athens, Ohio, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 7 August 1990 at about 13:12 local time, a Bell 206 registered N49651, operated by Helicopter Elite Service, Inc., was involved in an accident near Athens, Ohio, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 13:12
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Athens, Ohio, United States
- Coordinates
- 39.3196, -82.0905
- Aircraft
- Bell 206
- Registration
- N49651
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Helicopter Elite Service, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Pickerington → Charleston
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- Unk
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC90LA189
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO VISUALLY ACQUIRE AND MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE POWERLINE(S). CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
DURING FLIGHT, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT REDUCED VISIBILITY TO LESS THAN 1 MILE. HE STATED THAT BECAUSE OF HIS REDUCED GROUND CLEARANCE AND VISIBILITY, HE DECIDED TO TURN AROUND AND GO BACK TO BETTER WEATHER CONDITIONS. MOMENTS AFTER HE MADE THE DECISION, THE SKID OF THE HELICOPTER HIT A WIRE. THE HELICOPTER TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE WIRE(S). THE PILOT REDUCED POWER AND ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION. THE HELICOPTER MADE APPROXIMATELY TWO AND THREE QUARTER TURNS BEFORE CONTACTING THE GROUND.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell 206 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Mar 1990 | Bell 206B | Pearland, Texas, United States | Houston Helicopter, Inc | Serious injuries | - |
| 27 Aug 1990 | Bell 206B | Elkhorn, Wisconsin, United States | - | Fatal | 5 |
| 12 Feb 1990 | Bell 206B | Fort Thompson, South Dakota, United States | DOE | Serious injuries | - |
| 17 Apr 1990 | Bell 206L-1 | E. Island BLK15 | Houston Helicopter Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 10 Sep 1990 | Bell 206B | Oahu, Hawaii, United States | Hawaii Int'l Helicopters | Serious injuries | - |
| 8 May 1990 | Bell 206BIII | Kaplan, Louisiana, United States | Industrial Helicopters Inc | No injuries | - |
All 1,732 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Jul 1990 | Bellanca 17-31A | Wilmington, Ohio, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 May 1990 | Rockwell 114 | Willoughby Hill, Ohio, United States | Finder's Diversified, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 18 Jan 1990 | Learjet 23 | Ansonia, Ohio, United States | Aero Smith Leasing | Fatal | 2 |
| 2 Jun 1990 | Piper PA28-140 | Wadsworth, Ohio, United States | Ralph D. Brown | Fatal | 2 |
| 18 Jul 1990 | Cessna 150M | New Knoxville, Ohio, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 26 Jul 1990 | Cessna C-152A | Yellowsprings, Ohio, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |