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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

August 21, 1998 · Bell 206B · N223HA

Salinas, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 21, 1998
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Salinas, CA
Aircraft
Bell 206B
Tail Number
N223HA
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX98LA273

The pilot lifted off from the fuel truck, but did not have enough altitude to clear the irrigation pipe in front of him. The skids became entangled with the pipe and the aircraft nosed over. The pilot reported that he had not experienced any mechanical problems with the helicopter prior to the accident, but had just misjudged the clearance with the pipe.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the pilot to maintain clearance with the irrigation pipes which resulted in the entanglement of the skids and the subsequent rollover.

Full Narrative

On August 21, 1998, at 0630 hours Pacific daylight time, a Bell 206B, N223HA, entangled a skid in an irrigation pipe on takeoff and rolled over about 15 miles southeast of Salinas, California. The helicopter was destroyed, and the airline transport rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The local area aerial application operation was conducted under 14 CFR Part 137. The flight originated at the Salinas airport at 0500, and had made multiple landings at a support truck for additional fuel and chemical loads. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he had set down at the truck to refuel and reload the helicopter for aerial application. He lifted off, but did not have enough altitude to clear an irrigation pipe in front of him. The skids became entangled with the pipe and the aircraft rolled over to the right and impacted the ground in a nose down attitude. The aircraft then rolled over on its top left side approximately 180 degrees from the takeoff heading. The pilot reported that he had not experienced any mechanical problems with the helicopter prior to the accident, but had just misjudged the clearance with the pipe.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time06:30 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 206B
Tail NumberN223HA
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C20 · Turboshaft · 420
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 54 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind300° @ 2 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point59 / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data