Bell 206-L4 N95CH

Summary

On 1 December 2007 at about 19:10 local time, a Bell 206-L4 registered N95CH was involved in an accident near Talladega, Alabama, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 December 2007 at 19:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Talladega, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

None

Coordinates

33.4228, -86.9361

Aircraft

Bell 206-L4

Registration

N95CH

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Talladega → Ironton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC08LA050

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a wire.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot performed an off-airport landing in the helicopter, to pick up a patient for transport to a nearby hospital. During the subsequent takeoff, the helicopter's tail rotor struck a wire that was located about 30 feet above the ground, oriented perpendicular to its flight path. The pilot immediately landed without further incident. Neither the pilot, nor the crew were previously informed of the wire, which was not observed until just prior to contact. The helicopter sustained damage to the tail rotor, vertical stabilizer, and left aft storage compartment door.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.