ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 45514
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| Date: | Thursday 27 June 2002 |
| Time: | 07:58 |
| Type: |  Bell 206B-3 JetRanger III |
| Owner/operator: | Aero West |
| Registration: | N2779B |
| MSN: | 2819 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1978 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 14199 hours |
| Engine model: | Allison 250-C20B |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Raton, NM -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Survey |
| Departure airport: | Raton-Crews Field, NM (RTN/KRTN) |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On June 27, 2002, at 0758 mountain daylight time, a Bell 206BIII helicopter, N2779B, was destroyed following impact with transmission lines while maneuvering near Raton, New Mexico. The commercial pilot and his passenger were fatally injured. Aero West Helicopters, Albuquerque, New Mexico, was operating the helicopter under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight that originated from Raton, New Mexico, approximately 45 minutes before the accident. A flight plan had not been filed.
The pilot was flying a power line inspection patrol for possible maintenance needs when the helicopter struck power lines. The mission was flown at 40 to 50 knots, on the right side of the wires, with the main rotor a "few" feet above the highest wire, but not over-lapping the wire. This permitted the observer, sitting in the left seat, to have an optimum view. Two 3/8 inch in diameter galvanized steel static cables (without associated transmission wires) joined the northbound galvanized steel static cables (with associated transmission cables) on a 30 degrees angle. The accident occurred at 0758, when the sun was at approximately 24 degree altitude above the horizon, and its azimuth was 78 degrees east of north (there were no clouds in the sky).
This report was modified on November 21, 2005.
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance of the static wire. Factors were the static wire, and the glaring sunlight condition.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20020708X01056&key=1
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 27 March 1994 | N2779B | Aero West Management Services | 0 | Belen, NM | |
sub |
Location
Images:
Photo: NTSB
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 28-Oct-2008 00:45 | ASN archive | Added |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:24 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 09-Dec-2017 16:46 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 08-Apr-2024 18:14 | Captain Adam | Updated [Departure airport, Narrative, Photo] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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