Bell 206B N291SH

Summary

On 19 July 2014 at about 12:30 local time, a Bell 206B registered N291SH, operated by R&B Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Salinas, California, United States. One person was 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

19 July 2014 at 12:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Salinas, California, United States

Coordinates

36.3600, -121.3100

Aircraft

Bell 206B

Registration

N291SH

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1978

Engines

1

Operator

R&B Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Salinas → Salinas

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

WPR14CA319

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to ensure adequate clearance from ground obstacles during takeoff which resulted in loss of aircraft control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he had landed in a field that had irrigation sprinkler pipes arranged in field rows. During takeoff and forward movement to reposition the helicopter, the right side spray boom caught on one of the sprinkler head risers which resulted in a dynamic rollover of the helicopter to the right. The helicopter came to rest on its right side and sustained substantial damage to the tail boom and damage to the main rotor blades. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.