Bell 206 N91TA

Summary

On 9 September 2020 at about 18:00 local time, a Bell 206 registered N91TA, operated by Hagerman, Jess, was involved in an accident near Randle, Washington, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 September 2020 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Randle, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Randle-Kiona Airpark (WN55)

Coordinates

46.2812, -121.4227

Aircraft

Bell 206

Registration

N91TA

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1981

Engines

1

Operator

Hagerman, Jess

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

External Load

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Randle WA Fire Station → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR20LA331

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tree while conducting an external load operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot reported that, while hovering the helicopter and maneuvering aft about 60 ft above ground level during an external load operation, the tail rotor impacted a tree. He immediately lost yaw control, and the helicopter began to rapidly turn right. The main rotor then impacted trees, and the helicopter spun to the ground. The helicopter was destroyed by a postcrash fire. 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.