Bell 206B accident near Cedartown, GA
On June 5, 2007, a Bell 206B (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Cedartown, GA. 3 people were seriously injured. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- June 5, 2007
- Place
- Cedartown, GA
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 0 fatal, 3 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 34.010°N, 85.256°W
- NTSB ID
- 20080808X01188
NTSB summary
On June 5, 2007, about 1444 eastern daylight time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N912SP, crashed into a heavily wooded area while maneuvering near Cedartown, Georgia. The certificated commercial helicopter pilot and two passengers sustained serious injuries, and the helicopter was destroyed by impact forces and postcrash fire. The flight was operated as a public use aircraft, engaged in a low-level drug interdiction mission for the State of Georgia, Governor's Drug Task Force, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, with no flight plan filed for the local flight. Visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight departed from Cornelius-Moore Field (4A4), Cedartown, Georgia, at 1415. The pilot stated to a National Transportation Safety Board investigator that at the time of the accident, they were over a forested area in hilly terrain, about 50 miles west-northwest of Atlanta. He estimated that his altitude was between 250 and 300 feet above trees varying in height from 30 and 50 feet. The pilot reported that while flying low over trees in a left turn, a strong gust of wind was encountered causing the helicopter to yaw to the right, which developed into a right spin he could not arrest with the application of full left pedal. He lowered the collective to slow the rotation and the helicopter descended out of control to the ground. The pilot reported no airframe or engine anomalies prior to the accident. Examination of the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration FAA Inspector found that the helicopter had
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter while maneuvering. Contributing to the accident were strong gusty winds.
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Browse: Georgia · Bell aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
