On 27 Jul 2019, a Bell 206 B operated by Vertical Air Services Technology was involved in an aviation accident near Dukedom, TN. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires during an agricultural application flight. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A helicopter struck wires and impacted terrain during an aerial application low pass after leveling off from a turn. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. No preaccident mechanical failures were reported by the operator.
Accident Details
A helicopter pilot reported that while conducting an aerial application low pass, the aircraft struck wires shortly after leveling off from a turn. The helicopter subsequently impacted terrain. The pilot provided the account of the sequence of events.
Damage
The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, main rotor system, and tail rotor system. The extent of the damage indicates significant impact forces.
Operator's Report
According to the helicopter operator, there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The operator's assessment suggests that the accident was not attributable to any known mechanical issue.