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Location:
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Hibbing, Minnesota
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Accident Number:
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CEN23LA385
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Date & Time:
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August 27, 2023, 12:15 Local
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Registration:
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N19BH
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Aircraft: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 206
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Collision during takeoff/land Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 133: Rotorcraft ext. load
Analysis
The helicopter was operating at a remote, unimproved landing zone (LZ) with a ground crew consisting of firefighters. They were conducting aerial firefighting training with an external load consisting of a 50 ft longline and a water bucket. The LZ consisted of about 2.5 ft tall prairie grass, with the tail of the helicopter going up slope. During the landing to the LZ, the tail rotor impacted a backpack on the ground. The helicopter landed upright and the pilot shutdown the helicopter. The pilot performed a self-assessment of the damage sustained to the tail rotor blades and then flew the helicopter back to the airtanker base with the ground crew onboard.
The helicopter sustained substantial damage to both tail rotor blades and the tail rotor hub. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot was in radio contact with the ground crew during the training. However, during the landing, there was no communication between the ground crew and the pilot either via radio or hand signal.
The orange-colored backpack was owned and was used by the ground crew. According to the operator, the pilot and the ground crew had worked together previously conducting aerial firefighting operations and the pilot had landed to the LZ several times in the past.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The ground crew’s failure to secure the backpack at the landing zone (LZ), that resulted in the tail rotor impacting the backpack during the landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate selection of an area at the LZ, the lack of awareness of the backpack at the LZ, and the absence of communication between the pilot and the ground crew during the landing.
Findings
Aircraft - (general) - Damaged/degraded
Environmental issues -Ground equipment - Effect on equipment
Personnel issues - Decision making/judgment - Pilot
Personnel issues - Monitoring environment - Pilot
Personnel issues - Monitoring environment - Ground crew
Environmental issues -Ground equipment - Awareness of condition
Personnel issues - Use of equip/system - Ground crew
Personnel issues - Lack of communication - Pilot
Personnel issues - Lack of communication - Ground crew
Personnel issues - CRM/MRM techniques - Pilot
Personnel issues - CRM/MRM techniques - Ground crew
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Factual Information
History of Flight
Maneuvering-low-alt flying -Simulated/training event
Maneuvering-low-alt flying - External load event (Rotorcraft)
Landing-flare/touchdown - Off-field or emergency landing
Landing-flare/touchdown - Miscellaneous/other
Landing-flare/touchdown - Collision during takeoff/land (Defining event)
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Pilot Information
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Certificate:
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Commercial
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Age:
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39,Male
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Airplane Rating(s):
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Single-engine land
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Seat Occupied:
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Right
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Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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Helicopter
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Restraint Used:
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4-point
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Instrument Rating(s):
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Airplane
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Second Pilot Present:
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No
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Instructor Rating(s):
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None
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Toxicology Performed:
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Medical Certification:
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Class 1 With waivers/limitations
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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May 8, 2023
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Occupational Pilot:
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Yes
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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January 20, 2023
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Flight Time:
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(Estimated) 3107 hours (Total, all aircraft), 86 hours (Total, this make and model), 3065 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 154 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 21 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)
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Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
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Aircraft Make:
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BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA
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Registration:
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N19BH
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Model/Series:
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206 L-4
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Aircraft Category:
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Helicopter
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Year of Manufacture:
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2008
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Amateur Built:
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Airworthiness Certificate:
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Normal
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Serial Number:
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52370
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Landing Gear Type:
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High skid
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Seats:
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7
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Date/Type of Last Inspection:
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March 23, 2023 100 hour
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Certified Max Gross Wt.:
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4450 lbs
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Time Since Last Inspection:
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54 Hrs
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Engines:
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1 Turbo shaft
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Airframe Total Time:
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6063.6 Hrs at time of accident
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Engine Manufacturer:
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Rolls-Royce
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ELT:
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C126 installed, not activated
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Engine Model/Series:
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250-C30P
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Registered Owner:
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ABC Helicopters, Inc.
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Rated Power:
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650 Horsepower
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Operator:
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Brainerd Helicopter Service, Inc.
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Operating Certificate(s) Held:
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Rotorcraft external load (133), On-demand air taxi (135), Agricultural aircraft
(137)
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Operator Does Business As:
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Brainerd Helicopter Service, Inc.
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Operator Designator Code:
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JTJL
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Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
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Conditions at Accident Site:
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Visual (VMC)
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Condition of Light:
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Day
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Observation Facility, Elevation:
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KHIB,1339 ft msl
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Distance from Accident Site:
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2 Nautical Miles
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Observation Time:
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11:53 Local
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Direction from Accident Site:
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192°
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Lowest Cloud Condition:
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Clear
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Visibility
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10 miles
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Lowest Ceiling:
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None
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Visibility (RVR):
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Wind Speed/Gusts:
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/ Turbulence Type
Forecast/Actual:
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None / None
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Wind Direction:
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Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
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N/A / N/A
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Altimeter Setting:
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30.12 inches Hg
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Temperature/Dew Point:
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17°C / 5°C
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Precipitation and Obscuration:
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No Obscuration; No Precipitation
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Departure Point:
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Hibbing, MN (HIB)
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Type of Flight Plan Filed:
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None
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Destination:
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Hibbing, MN
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Type of Clearance:
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None
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Departure Time:
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11:30 Local
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Type of Airspace:
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Class E
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Wreckage and Impact Information
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Crew Injuries:
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1 None
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Passenger Injuries:
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N/A
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Aircraft Fire:
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None
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Ground Injuries:
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N/A
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Aircraft Explosion:
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None
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Total Injuries:
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1 None
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Latitude, Longitude:
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47.426218,-92.826765(est)
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Administrative Information
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Investigator In Charge (IIC):
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Hodges, Michael
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Additional Participating Persons:
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Daniel Sindt; FAA Minneapolis FSDO; Minneapolis, MN
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Original Publish Date:
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October 26, 2023
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Investigation Class:
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Class 4
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Note:
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The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.
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Investigation Docket:
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https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192954
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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in other modes of transportation— railroad, transit, highway, marine, pipeline, and commercial space. We determine the probable causes of the accidents and events we investigate, and issue safety recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences. In addition, we conduct transportation safety research studies and offer information and other assistance to family members and survivors for each accident or event we investigate. We also serve as the appellate authority for enforcement actions involving aviation and mariner certificates issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and US Coast Guard, and we adjudicate appeals of civil penalty actions taken by the FAA.
The NTSB does not assign fault or blame for an accident or incident; rather, as specified by NTSB regulation, “accident/incident investigations are fact-finding proceedings with no formal issues and no adverse parties … and are not conducted for the purpose of determining the rights or liabilities of any person” (Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 831.4). Assignment of fault or legal liability is not relevant to the NTSB’s statutory mission to improve transportation safety by investigating accidents and incidents and issuing safety recommendations. In addition, statutory language prohibits the admission into evidence or use of any part of an NTSB report related to an accident in a civil action for damages resulting from a matter mentioned in the report (Title 49 United States Code section 1154(b)). A factual report that may be admissible under 49 United States Code section 1154(b) is available here.
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