Bell 206B, N8159J, registered to and operated by Forming Agrotors Inc: Accident occurred July 06, 2017 in Dixon, Webster County, Kentucky

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Analysis 

The helicopter pilot reported that he was maneuvering at low altitude during an agricultural application flight. While in a left turn, he did not see the power lines until they were very close. He increased the collective to climb, and he banked right to avoid impact. However, the tail rotor struck the power lines, and the helicopter lost tail rotor effectiveness. The pilot conducted an autorotation and landed the helicopter, but the tailboom impacted trees.

The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor gear box, the tail rotor blades, and the vertical stabilizer.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. 

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: 

The pilot's failure to see and avoid power lines while maneuvering at a low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to adequately identify hazards to flight during agricultural application operation planning. 

Findings

Personnel issues
Monitoring environment - Pilot (Cause)
Flight planning/navigation - Pilot (Factor)
Identification/recognition - Pilot (Factor)

Environmental issues
Wire - Effect on equipment (Cause)

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Louisville, Kentucky

Forming Agrotors Inc: http://registry.faa.gov/N8159J

NTSB Identification: GAA17CA393
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Thursday, July 06, 2017 in Dixon, KY
Aircraft: BELL 206, registration: N8159J
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The helicopter pilot reported that he was maneuvering at low altitude during an agricultural application flight.

While in a left turn he did not see the power line wires until they were very close. He increased the collective to climb and he banked right to avoid impact. However, the tail rotor struck the power line wires and the helicopter lost tail rotor effectiveness. 

The pilot autorotated and the helicopter landed, but the tailboom impacted trees. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor gear box, the tail rotor blades and the vertical stabilizer.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.