On 17 Jun 2018, a BELL 206 B operated by North Wind Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Orondo, WA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines while maneuvering at low altitude. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A helicopter climbed slowly over a hill and struck powerline wires on the other side during a cherry drying flight. The pilot performed a hard landing, resulting in substantial damage to the tailboom.
Accident Details
The incident involved a helicopter engaged in a cherry drying operation. While flying, the helicopter climbed slowly over a small rise in the terrain. On the opposite side of that rise, it contacted overhead powerline wires. The pilot then performed a landing. The landing was characterized as hard.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that no mechanical malfunctions or failures existed that would have prevented normal flight operations. The helicopter was in good working order prior to and during the event.
Damage
Following the landing, an inspection revealed that the helicopter had sustained substantial damage to its tailboom. The term 'substantial damage' indicates that the component requires major repair or replacement. No other damage was mentioned.