Bell Helicopter Textron 206 L-1 accident near Saucier, MS
On March 30, 2015, a Bell Helicopter Textron 206 L-1 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Saucier, MS. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- March 30, 2015
- Place
- Saucier, MS
- Aircraft
- Bell Helicopter Textron 206 L-1 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 30.668°N, 89.095°W
- NTSB ID
- 20150330X73700
Official records · ERA15FA173
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn March 30, 2015, about 1436 central daylight time, a Bell 206 L-1, N50KH, registered to HLW Aviation, LLC and operated by T & M Aviation, Inc. under contract to the United States Forest Service, was destroyed by controlled burn fire after it impacted terrain near Saucier, Mississippi. The commercial pilot and the front left seat crew member were fatally injured; the rear seat crew member sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the aerial application flight that was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. The flight departed Dean Griffin Memorial Airport (M24), Wiggins, Mississippi, about 1334. After a pre-mission briefing at M24, the flight departed to assist in the scheduled burn of an 800 acre wooded area through a process known as "aerial ignition." A witness that observed the helicopter prior to the accident was walking a road on the southern end of the burn area when he noticed the helicopter "make a turn and go back." About 7 seconds after the turn, the witness heard a sound that resembled an air hose being unplugged from a high pressure air tank, and heard the helicopter impact terrain about three seconds later. With the exception of the high pressure sound, the witness did not observe anything unusual with the helicopter. According to the witness, the helicopter's last transmission to ground personnel was approximately 7 minutes prior to the accident. Several Forest Service personnel were performing controlled burn functions on the ground durin
Probable cause
A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined due to postaccident fire damage.
More accidents in MS
- Beech A36TC, May 16, 2016
- Cessna 336, Sep 15, 2004
- Piper PA-24-180, May 8, 1999
- Mooney M20C, Jul 30, 2005
- Beech A36, Dec 3, 1983
Browse: Mississippi
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
