Bell 206 N158H

Summary

On 23 May 2019 at about 17:25 local time, a Bell 206 registered N158H, operated by Hlw Aviation Llc, was involved in an accident near Pittsfield, Illinois, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 May 2019 at 17:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Pittsfield, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Pittsfield Penstone Muni (PPQ)

Coordinates

39.6517, -90.8100

Aircraft

Bell 206

Registration

N158H

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1980

Engines

1

Operator

Hlw Aviation Llc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pittsfield → Pittsfield

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA19CA278

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain during agricultural application operations. 

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter pilot reported that, during his third agricultural application pass over a hilly field, he quickly glanced at an instrument inside the cockpit, and the helicopter impacted terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the cabin, fuselage, and tailboom. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector 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.