MD Helicopters 600 N745MB

Summary

On 29 November 2023 at about 20:30 local time, a MD Helicopters 600 registered N745MB, operated by Brim Equipment Leasing, LLC, was involved in an accident near Sterling City, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 November 2023 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Sterling City, Texas, United States

Coordinates

31.9238, -100.9692

Aircraft

MD Helicopters 600

Registration

N745MB

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2002

Engines

1

Operator

Brim Equipment Leasing, LLC

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

External Load

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sterling City → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN24FA049

2 people died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line pole’s static arm during forecasted gusting wind conditions, un-forecasted light turbulence, and un-forecasted low-level wind shear conditions, resulting in main rotor blade contact with the static arm and a subsequent loss of control and impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter departed from the remote landing zone with the pilot and an aerial lineman to conduct aerial power line system work. ADS-B data showed that the helicopter approached the target powerline pole from the west. The helicopter maneuvered around the pole, and the data subsequently terminated at the pole. Various impact marks were observed on a static arm, about 12 ft long, at the top of the pole. The impact marks were located about 4 ft from the base of the static arm. The pole and attached wires were all found intact. The helicopter came to rest on its left side, about 103 ft away from the pole on a flat grass field. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, fuselage, and empennage. Postaccident examination of the airframe and the engine revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A review of meteorological data showed that the helicopter likely encountered gusting wind conditions to 26 kts, light turbulence, and low-level wind shear (LLWS) conditions at the time of the accident. The weather forecast for the accident time did not forecast turbulence or LLWS and there were no PIREPs or other information indicative of turbulent conditions or LLWS within 100 miles of the accident site. The closest terminal aerodrome forecast, 42 miles southeast of the accident site, did include gusting wind conditions. The actual wind conditions for the accident site were likely below the operator’s published wind limitations. A search of archived information indicated that the pilot did not request weather information from Leidos Flight Service or through ForeFlight. The pilot did have an account through ForeFlight but only updated route strings on the accident day. It is unknown what weather information, if any, the pilot checked or received before or during the accident flight. Based on the available evidence, it is likely the pilot failed to maintain clearance from the power line pole’s static arm during forecasted gusting wind conditions, un-forecasted light turbulence, and un-forecasted LLWS conditions, resulting in main rotor blade contact with the static arm and a subsequent loss of control and impact with terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.