Bell 206 N88HC

Summary

On 12 January 2019 at about 04:00 local time, a Bell 206 registered N88HC was involved in an accident near Yuma, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 January 2019 at 04:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Yuma, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Yuma International Airport (knyl)

Coordinates

32.6194, -114.6456

Aircraft

Bell 206

Registration

N88HC

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1975

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Somerton → Somerton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

WPR19TA061

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power transmission wires while flying at low altitude in nighttime conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the nighttime visual flight rules flight, with no moon illumination, the commercial pilot was surveying a field to establish visual contact with reported power transmission wires prior to conducting an aerial application.  The wires spanned the field along a west/easterly heading. While on a northerly heading, the pilot flew over the field and did not provide adequate separation from the wires. Subsequently the helicopter struck the wires at an altitude of about 30 ft above ground level and impacted terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.