The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Fresno, California
Bettencourt Flying Service Inc
Location: Merced, California
Accident Number: WPR22LA236
Date and Time: June 24, 2022, 09:05 Local
Registration: N915B
Aircraft: Bell 206B
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural
On June 24, 2022, at 0905 Pacific daylight time, a Bell 206 helicopter, N915B, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Merced, California. The pilot was not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 137 agricultural flight.
The pilot reported that he had just performed a 180° turn and was on the spray run, about six feet above ground level (agl), when he felt a vibration. He then felt a “snap” and the helicopter began to rotate left. He applied right pedal and started an autorotation in an attempt to decrease the airspeed. He attempted to perform a run-on landing in the tall corn. Upon touchdown, the helicopter rolled up on its nose and the main rotor blades severed the tail boom.
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage. The KAflex driveshaft was separated and there were several sheared bolts and pieces of the KAflex located underneath the engine.
The parts were retained for further examination.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Bell
Registration: N915B
Model/Series: 206B
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Amateur Built:
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Agricultural aircraft (137)
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KMCE, 153 ft msl
Observation Time: 09:53 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 4 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 31°C /12°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 5 knots / , 330°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.84 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Atwater, CA
Destination: Merced, CA
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 37.286657,-120.59379 (est)
Rotorcraft impacted the ground for unknown reasons.
Date: 24-JUN-22
Time: 16:27:00Z
Regis#: N915B
Aircraft Make: BELL
Aircraft Model: 206
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: SUBSTANTIAL
Activity: AERIAL APPLICATION
Flight Phase: MANEUVERING (MNV)
Operation: 137
City: ATWATER
State: CALIFORNIA
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