Bell 206L-1 N303AE

Summary

On 27 August 2021 at about 13:30 local time, a Bell 206L-1 registered N303AE, operated by North Wind Aviation LLC, was involved in an accident near Glide, Oregon, 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

27 August 2021 at 13:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Glide, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

43.4387, -122.9100

Aircraft

Bell 206L-1

Registration

N303AE

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1979

Engines

1

Operator

North Wind Aviation LLC

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR21LA333

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree during an aerial application.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the helicopter reported that, while conducting an aerial application over an open area, the main rotor blades struck a tree that he had previously not seen. Subsequently, the helicopter began to spin to the left and impacted the terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and tailboom. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.