Bell 206B-3 N85BH

Summary

On 10 March 2005 at about 19:54 local time, a Bell 206B-3 registered N85BH, operated by USDA Forest Service, was involved in an accident near Shelbyville, Texas, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 March 2005 at 19:54

Classification

Accident

Location

Shelbyville, Texas, United States

Coordinates

31.7511, -94.0006

Aircraft

Bell 206B-3

Registration

N85BH

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

USDA Forest Service

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Shelbyville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW05FA086

3 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain altitude and clearance for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While in a slow flight out of ground effect the helicopter lost control and impacted heavily wooded (100-110 foot trees) terrain while on a United Stated Forest Service (USFS) prescribed fire mission. The prescribed fire was supported by the application of aerial ignition spheres utilizing a cabin mounted plastic sphere dispenser (PSD) machine. According to USFS operating procedures, PSD missions are typically flown at 50-300 feet above the top of the highest vegetation at airspeeds from 20-40 knots. While on the mission a radio distress call,"Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, we are going down," was heard on the mission operating frequency. According to USFS personnel, the voice making the distress call appeared to be that of the ignition specialist on board, not the pilot. No further communications were heard from the helicopter. Post accident examinations and testing of the engine, fuel control, and power turbine governor did not reveal conclusive evidence of mechanical failure. Examination of the airframe did not reveal evidence of a control system failure. Fuel calculations determined that the helicopter should have had about 36.9 gallons of usable fuel on board at the time of the accident. Evidence at the accident site showed some rotation signatures of dynamic drive components, although a power level could not be determined. The USFS inspection of the PSD machine did not reveal evidence of a malfunction that could have contributed to the accident. The helicopter was within weight and balance limits for the type of operation. The reason for the loss of control could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.