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Location:
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Lewiston, Idaho
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Accident Number:
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WPR24LA138
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Date & Time:
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May 2, 2024, 12:30 Local
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Registration:
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N42PL
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Aircraft:
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Aerospatiale SA315B
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Defining Event:
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Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
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Injuries:
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1 Minor
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Flight Conducted Under:
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Part 137: Agricultural
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|
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Analysis
According to the pilot, while performing an aerial application on a field, the helicopter struck a set of power lines that he was previously aware of and had been working around during the flight. Following the impact with wires, he initiated a forced landing to a field. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades, transmission, tail rotor drive shaft, and tail boom.
The pilot reported there were no mechanical failures or anomalies 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 maintain clearance from power lines during a low level aerial application.
Findings
Personnel issues Monitoring environment - Pilot
Aircraft Altitude - Not attained/maintained
Environmental issues Wire - Awareness of condition
Factual Information
History of Flight
Maneuvering-low-alt flying Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) (Defining event)
Pilot Information
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Certificate:
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Commercial; Flight instructor
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Age:
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32,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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Unknown
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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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Helicopter
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Toxicology Performed:
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|
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Medical Certification:
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Class 2 None
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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December 28, 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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March 21, 2024
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Flight Time:
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(Estimated) 1993 hours (Total, all aircraft), 512 hours (Total, this make and model), 1847 hours
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|
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(Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 70 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft)
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Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
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Aircraft Make:
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Aerospatiale
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Registration:
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N42PL
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|
Model/Series:
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SA315B
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Aircraft Category:
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Helicopter
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|
Year of Manufacture:
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1976
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Amateur Built:
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|
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Airworthiness Certificate:
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Restricted (Special)
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Serial Number:
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2438
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Landing Gear Type:
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None; Skid
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Seats:
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5
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Date/Type of Last
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April 8, 2024 Annual
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Certified Max Gross Wt.:
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5070 lbs
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Inspection:
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|
|
|
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Time Since Last Inspection:
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21.3 Hrs
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Engines:
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1 Turbo shaft
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|
Airframe Total Time:
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10601.8 Hrs as of last
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Engine Manufacturer:
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TURBOMECA
|
|
|
inspection
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|
|
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ELT:
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Not installed
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Engine Model/Series:
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ARTOUSTE IIIB1
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|
Registered Owner:
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ESSENTIAL FLIGHT
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Rated Power:
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590 Horsepower
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|
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OPERATIONS LLC
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|
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Operator:
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ESSENTIAL FLIGHT
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Operating Certificate(s)
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Agricultural aircraft (137)
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|
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OPERATIONS LLC
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Held:
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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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LWS,1436 ft msl
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Distance from Accident Site:
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6 Nautical Miles
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Observation Time:
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11:00 Local
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Direction from Accident Site:
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46°
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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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|
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Wind Speed/Gusts:
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/
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Turbulence Type
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None / None
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|
|
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Forecast/Actual:
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|
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Wind Direction:
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Turbulence Severity
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N/A / N/A
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|
|
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Forecast/Actual:
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|
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Altimeter Setting:
|
|
Temperature/Dew Point:
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15.6°C
|
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Precipitation and Obscuration:
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No Obscuration; No Precipitation
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|
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Departure Point:
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COTTONWOOD, ID (S84)
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Type of Flight Plan Filed:
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None
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Destination:
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LEWISTON, ID (LWS)
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Type of Clearance:
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VFR
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Departure Time:
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09:30 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 Minor
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Passenger
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N/A
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Aircraft Fire:
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None
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|
Injuries:
|
|
|
|
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Ground Injuries:
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|
Aircraft Explosion:
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None
|
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Total Injuries:
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1 Minor
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Latitude,
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46.408,-116.90316(est)
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|
|
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Longitude:
|
|
Administrative Information
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Investigator In Charge (IIC):
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Hicks, Michael
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Additional Participating
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Doug Belcher; FAA; Spokane , WA
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|
Persons:
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|
|
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Original Publish Date:
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November 19, 2024
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|
Last Revision Date:
|
|
|
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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=194210
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|
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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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