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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

May 27, 1982 · Bell 206B · N9986K

Oakwood, VA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 27, 1982
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Location
Oakwood, VA
Aircraft
Bell 206B
Tail Number
N9986K
Operator
Robert a Wood
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL82FA144

THE PLT WAS FLYING RAILROAD OFFICIALS TO INSPECT RAIL LINES THAT HAD BEEN COVERED BY MUD SLIDES CAUSED BY RECENT HEAVY RAINS. A WITNESS HEARD THE HELICOPTER COMING UP THE VALLEY & THEN HEARD TWO POPPING SOUNDS. HE SAW THE HELICOPTER FALLING TO THE GROUND NEAR SOME POWER LINES STRUNG ACROSS THE VALLEY OVER THE RAILROAD TRACKS. THE POWER LINE ASSEMBLY CONSISTED OF TWO STATIC LINES AT THE TOP & THREE POWER LINES AT THE BOTTOM. THE UPPERMOST STATIC LINE WAS SEPARATED & LYING ON THE LOWER STATIC LINE. THE LINES ARE APPROXIMATELY 300 FT AGL & WERE UNMARKED. THE PLT WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE OPERATING AREA & PURPORTEDLY AWARE OF THE LOCATION OF THE POWER LINES.

Full Narrative

THE PLT WAS FLYING RAILROAD OFFICIALS TO INSPECT RAIL LINES THAT HAD BEEN COVERED BY MUD SLIDES CAUSED BY RECENT HEAVY RAINS. A WITNESS HEARD THE HELICOPTER COMING UP THE VALLEY & THEN HEARD TWO POPPING SOUNDS. HE SAW THE HELICOPTER FALLING TO THE GROUND NEAR SOME POWER LINES STRUNG ACROSS THE VALLEY OVER THE RAILROAD TRACKS. THE POWER LINE ASSEMBLY CONSISTED OF TWO STATIC LINES AT THE TOP & THREE POWER LINES AT THE BOTTOM. THE UPPERMOST STATIC LINE WAS SEPARATED & LYING ON THE LOWER STATIC LINE. THE LINES ARE APPROXIMATELY 300 FT AGL & WERE UNMARKED. THE PLT WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE OPERATING AREA & PURPORTEDLY AWARE OF THE LOCATION OF THE POWER LINES.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:10 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 206B
Tail NumberN9986K
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorRobert a Wood
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C20 · Turboshaft · 317
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Fatal3
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 32 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind230° @ 5 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point15 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time12:10

Appendix: Source Data