N914HH

Substantial
Serious

BELL 206BS/N: 2297

Accident Details

Date
Friday, November 11, 2016
NTSB Number
WPR17LA019
Location
Yuma, AZ
Event ID
20161111X71332
Coordinates
32.655834, -114.606941
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
1
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot’s inability to maintain helicopter control after its skid got caught on the landing pad while he was maneuvering the helicopter to land on it, which resulted in a dynamic roll-over.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N914HH
Make
BELL
Serial Number
2297
Engine Type
Turbo-shaft
Year Built
1977
Model / ICAO
206BB06
Aircraft Type
Rotorcraft
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
MORRIS-EQUIPMENT LLC
Address
340 W 32ND ST STE 413
Status
Deregistered
City
YUMA
State / Zip Code
AZ 85364-8128
Country
United States

Analysis

On November 10, 2016 about 2345 mountain standard time, a Bell 206B3, N914HH, rolled from an elevated landing pad located on top of a truck and collided with the ground near Yuma, Arizona. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries. The helicopter, operated by Morris Flying Service L.L.C, sustained substantial damage during the crash sequence. The helicopter was being operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. The helicopter departed the landing area about 10 minutes prior to the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the nighttime local aerial application flight, and a flight plan had not been filed.The commercial pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to apply chemicals to the adjacent fields. After applying four loads of chemical that night, the pilot was returning back to the landing pad that was situated on top of a box truck where he could reload. While attempting to maneuver the helicopter onto the center of the truck's pad, the right skid became caught on an access hole (where ground personnel refill the load). The pilot was unaware of the problem and attempted to reposition the helicopter by lifting the right skid. The helicopter dynamically rolled over off the right rear of the truck and collided with terrain.

The pilot sustained injuries as a result of the accident sequence. He stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR17LA019