Bell 206B N2763M

Summary

On 14 October 2010 at about 22:17 local time, a Bell 206B registered N2763M, operated by Whirlwide Inc, was involved in an accident near Auburn, California, United States. 2 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

14 October 2010 at 22:17

Classification

Accident

Location

Auburn, California, United States

Coordinates

38.9833, -121.1667

Aircraft

Bell 206B

Registration

N2763M

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Whirlwide Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Auburn → Angels Camp

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR11LA016

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a transmission line during flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff for the repositioning flight, and while transitioning along a canyon, he felt a vibration through the helicopter. The pilot initiated an autorotation and landed on a downsloping dirt road. The helicopter rolled over, coming to rest on its right side. Postaccident examination revealed that the helicopter impacted an unmarked transmission line. The line spanned an 800-foot gap across a small divide from a fenced electric substation to a power pole on a high outcropping. The pilot and passenger did not see the line at any time during the flight. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter prior to the vibration.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.