Summary
On June 17, 1999, a Bell 206B-III (N94WF) was involved in an accident near Tinicum, PA. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain a proper altitude above the water.
On June 17, 1999, about 1012 Eastern Daylight Time, a Bell 206B-III, N94WF, was substantially damaged during a collision with water at Tinicum, Pennsylvania. The certificated commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that originated from Erwinna, Pennsylvania. No flight plan was filed for the aerial application flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 137.
According to the pilot, he departed from "Landing Zone 5," an open field adjacent to the Delaware River. He intended to perform aerial application for 20 minutes, and return to the landing zone. He stated that while spraying for blackfly over the Delaware River, his attention was momentarily diverted, as he was looking at a flow gauge inside the cockpit.
This accident is documented in NTSB report NYC99LA147. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N94WF.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain a proper altitude above the water.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On June 17, 1999, about 1012 Eastern Daylight Time, a Bell 206B-III, N94WF, was substantially damaged during a collision with water at Tinicum, Pennsylvania. The certificated commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that originated from Erwinna, Pennsylvania. No flight plan was filed for the aerial application flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 137.
According to the pilot, he departed from "Landing Zone 5," an open field adjacent to the Delaware River. He intended to perform aerial application for 20 minutes, and return to the landing zone. He stated that while spraying for blackfly over the Delaware River, his attention was momentarily diverted, as he was looking at a flow gauge inside the cockpit. The pilot further stated that he flew too low, causing the skids to contact the water. The main rotor blades subsequently struck the water, and the helicopter came to rest on its side, in approximately 3 feet of water, about 2 to 3 miles from the landing zone.
Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC99LA147