Bell UH1B N6180A

Summary

On 21 June 2017 at about 15:40 local time, a Bell UH1B registered N6180A, operated by Jones Aviation Inc, was involved in an accident near Williams, 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

21 June 2017 at 15:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Williams, California, United States

Coordinates

39.2017, -122.1533

Aircraft

Bell UH1B

Registration

N6180A

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1962

Engines

1

Operator

Jones Aviation Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA355

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from transmission wires while maneuvering at a low altitude during an agricultural application flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter pilot reported that, while maneuvering at a low altitude during an agricultural application flight, he "forgot to duck" for some nearby transmission wires. The tail rotor struck the transmission wires, and the helicopter impacted terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.