What happened
On July 21, 2023, at approximately 11:05 EDT, a Bell 206B helicopter, registration N9913K, was performing an aerial observation flight near Terra Alta, West Virginia. The flight, operated by Maine Helicopters Inc, was intended to survey power transmission lines. The aircraft departed Morgantown Municipal Airport/Walter L Bill Hart Field (MGW) at approximately 10:39 EDT.
While flying at an altitude of 400 to 450 feet above ground level and an airspeed of 45 knots, the pilot was operating the aircraft near its maximum gross weight. After completing one survey line, the pilot began a descent over a hill to follow the terrain toward the next power line. During this descent, the pilot encountered a "push" caused by a tailwind, which caused the airspeed to drop below effective translational lift.
In an attempt to maintain control, the pilot pushed the cyclic forward and lowered the collective with approximately 85% power applied. However, the aircraft continued to lose altitude. Due to the proximity of trees and power lines, the pilot was unable to turn the helicopter into the wind to recover. To avoid striking the power lines, the pilot maneuvered toward the tree line and pulled up on the collective to cushion the impact. The helicopter struck the ground skids first and swung to the right, resulting in 2 serious injuries to the pilot and a crewmember.
The investigation
An inspection by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector at the accident site showed the helicopter came to rest on its right side between trees and power lines. The wreckage examination revealed that the main rotor had sheared off at the shaft, the skids had separated, and the cockpit area was crushed.
While the pilot stated that they did not fly in gusts exceeding 15 knots, meteorological data indicated that winds at the time of the accident were gusting between 15 and 20 knots. An automated weather report from Garrett County Airport (2G4) showed variable winds of 6 knots gusting to 13 knots, while a High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) model indicated surface winds from 290 degrees at 9 knots with potential gusts to 15 knots.