No fatalities

11 Jul 2009: BELL 206B — FARM & FOREST HELICOPTER SERVICE INC — Burlington, WA

Burlington, WA, United States

On 11 Jul 2009, a BELL 206B operated by FARM & FOREST HELICOPTER SERVICE INC was involved in an aviation accident near Burlington, WA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter while attempting to lift off from a trailer. The helicopter subsequently impacted the ground and rolled over. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 13 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A helicopter sustained substantial damage after impacting a flatbed trailer and rolling onto its side during a landing attempt in crosswind conditions. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical issues.

Accident Details

According to a written statement from the pilot, he was returning from an aerial application flight when he approached a flatbed trailer intended as his landing zone. He noted a right crosswind of approximately 5 knots. Just before touchdown, the pilot felt the helicopter drift to the left, and it subsequently contacted the trailer. In an attempt to lift off, the pilot applied right cyclic and increased collective pitch. The helicopter then rolled to the right, causing the main rotor blades to strike the ground. The main rotor blades subsequently impacted the tail boom, leading to its separation from the fuselage. The helicopter came to rest on its right side in a nose-high attitude.

Aircraft Damage

An examination by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to the main rotor assembly, tail rotor assembly, and tail boom.

Pilot Statement

The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter.

Contributing factors

Performance/control parameters — Not attained/maintainedPilot