Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Diego, California
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Diego, California
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
Location: Valley Center, CA
Accident Number: GAA19CA186
Date & Time: 03/29/2019, 0715 PDT
Registration: N83181
Aircraft: Bell 206
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Roll over
Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural
The helicopter pilot reported that, during the reloading operation for an agricultural spray flight, while boarding the helicopter positioned on top of the truck's platform, he saw that the load fill hose was not connected to the helicopter. However, prior to starting the helicopter, and unknown to the pilot, the groundcrew connected the hose. During takeoff, the helicopter rotated about 180ยบ to the right, the helicopter's right skid struck the hood of the truck, the helicopter rolled to the right and impacted the terrain.
The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Commercial
Age: 72, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land; Single-engine Sea
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane; Helicopter
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 06/18/2018
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 07/28/2017
Flight Time: (Estimated) 25300 hours (Total, all aircraft), 9000 hours (Total, this make and model), 24300 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Bell
Registration: N83181
Model/Series: 206 B
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Year of Manufacture: 1973
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Restricted; Normal
Serial Number: 1095
Landing Gear Type: Skid
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 03/15/2019, 100 Hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3200 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Turbo Shaft
Airframe Total Time: 26847 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Rolls Royce
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: 250c20b
Registered Owner: Hummingbirds Inc
Rated Power: 420 hp
Operator: Hummingbirds Inc
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Agricultural Aircraft (137)
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KRNM, 1393 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 18 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1353 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 159°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 7 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 3 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 330°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.16 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 3°C / 2°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Valley Center, CA
Type of Flight Plan Filed: Company VFR
Destination: Valley Center, CA
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0715 PDT
Type of Airspace: Class G
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 33.317222, -117.043611 (est)
A worker refilling an agricultural spraying company’s helicopter with pesticides was hurt Friday morning when the rotorcraft crashed in Valley Center in San Diego’s North County.
The incident happened around 7:30 a.m. at McNally and Muutama roads, the Valley Fire Protection District said. A NorthComm dispatcher told NBC 7 a helicopter had gone down; the rotorcraft sustained heavy damage and wound up on its side. Aerial images captured via SkyRanger 7 showed the chopper, bright blue in color, in a small, dirt field on the shoulder off the roadway.
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Michael Tingley said the rotorcraft was carrying the 51-year-old pilot/owner of an agricultural spraying company and a 35-year-old passenger who also works for the company.
The pilot told deputies he was in the process of spraying an avocado orchard in the area and had landed his chopper atop a large, white truck containing the pesticides.
Tingley told NBC 7 the worker had just finished filling up the pesticide tank and the pilot tried to take off before a hose had been disconnected. This yanked the passenger back, injuring him and causing the helicopter to crash.
"(The pilot said) he lifted a little soon and snagged the filler hose, which then rotated the helicopter and it crashed," the sergeant explained.
"The hose hadn’t been disconnected yet. The helicopter started to take off, the hose received tension on it, pulled the helicopter back down and then a catastrophic roll occurred with the helicopter," added Capt. Joe Basinski, of the Valley Center Fire Protection District.
The sheriff’s department said the worker suffered minor injuries to his leg as well as some cuts to his face that he got from the helicopter's blades. The pilot, who officials said is highly experienced, was able to safely get himself out of the helicopter and was not injured.
Basinski explained how firefighters helped the victim.
"He was on top of the (refueling) truck, so we had to set up a little rescue system in order to be able to get him down with the use of ropes and ladders," the fire captain told NBC 7.
Medics, as well as an air ambulance, were called to the scene to help the passenger. At around 8:10 a.m., SkyRanger 7 captured images of medics loading the patient onto a stretcher. He was then loaded into a Mercy Air ambulance that took off from the scene about five minutes later. Officials said the victim was taken to Palomar Medical Center.
The victim is expected to recover and Basinski said, in the end, things turned out alright.
“There’s a lot of aspects of this incident that worked out in everyone’s favor. Remote location, fuel spills, all that,” he added.
Officials said about 20 gallons of fuel spilled from the helicopter following the crash but, fortunately, a fire did not spark.
Meanwhile, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, the helicopter is registered to a small, Valley Center-based company called Hummingbird, Inc. Aerial Applicators.
The company's website said it provides "aerial solutions" for the region, specializing in aerial agricultural application, trying to "get a hold of the diverse mosquito population." The website said the company has been in business for 40 years, helmed by an owner who flew chinooks in Vietnam.
FAA spokesperson Allen Kenitzer told NBC 7 the rotoraft is a Bell 206B JetRanger II. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.
Hours later, crews remained at the scene assessing the wreckage and figuring out ways to remove it from the area.
Story and video ➤ https://www.nbcsandiego.com
(KGTV) – A crop-dusting helicopter crashed in the Valley Center area Friday morning, sending one person to the hospital with minor injuries.
San Diego County sheriff’s deputies at the Valley Center Substation received a 911 call regarding a crash near Muutama Road and McNally Road at around 7:30 a.m.
According to sheriff’s officials, the helicopter’s 51-year-old pilot said he was spraying an orchard and the crash occurred while the aircraft was being refilled with pesticides.
While the pilot was not hurt, a 35-year-old passenger who was assisting with the refilling of the pesticide suffered injuries considered minor.
He was transported by Mercy Air helicopter to Palomar Medical Center for treatment.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the cause of the crash, sheriff’s officials said.
Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.10news.com
I read that the workers face had cuts from the helicopters blades ... that’s a little to close to a beheading as one can get ! Glad he is ok .
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