On December 10, 2010, about 1155 eastern standard time, a Bell 206B, N263CH, performed an emergency landing next to a roadway after impacting electrical wires near Isom, Kentucky. The helicopter departed from a remote location near Whitesburg, Kentucky, about 1030, for the local aerial powerline observation flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The certificated airline transport pilot received minor injuries and the two passengers were not injured. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the support post around the pilot side door and damage to the fuselage on the front and pilot side of the helicopter. The flight was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135.
According to the pilot, he was performing a power line survey flight for charter and also had employees from the power company onboard. The helicopter was cruising "about 60 to 70 knots" when it impacted the static line on top of a powerline. He reported that he never lost control of the helicopter, but put it down as soon as he could in a parking lot, which was about one-quarter mile from the wire strike. He further stated that prior to the wire strike; there were no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter.
According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records and the pilot, age 56, he held an Airline Transport Pilot and commercial pilot certificates, with ratings for single-engine land, multiengine land, single-engine sea, helicopter, and instrument airplane and helicopter. His most recent FAA second-class medical was issued on November 17, 2010. He reported a flight time of approximately 19,000 total hours of flight experience, 3,750 total hours of flight experience in rotorcraft, and 3,500 total hours of flight experience in the accident helicopter make and model. His most recent flight review was conducted on November 2, 2010.
The helicopter was issued an FAA airworthiness certificate on August 22, 1979, and was registered to the accident pilot on May 16, 1997. It had undergone an annual inspection on October 13, 2010 and at the time of the accident had 3,348 total time in service.
The 1153 recorded weather observation at Julian Carroll Airport (JKL), Jackson, Kentucky, located approximately 31 miles to the northwest of the accident site included variable winds of 3 knots visibility 10 miles, scattered clouds at 3, 500 feet above ground level, temperature 7 degrees C, dew point minus 7 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 30.14 inches of mercury.
The FAA inspector that responded to accident location reported that the helicopter impacted a 3/8 inch diameter, 7-strand wire. A few of the strands were severed by the wire cutter located below the main rotor mast, and a 12 inch piece of strand remained in the wire cutter. One main rotor blade exhibited damage approximately 1 foot from the rotor tip. Control continuity was confirmed to all flight controls and no damage was observed to the landing gear.