Bell 206 accident near Fairfield, CA
On June 2, 2020, a Bell 206 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Fairfield, CA. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- June 2, 2020
- Place
- Fairfield, CA
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 38.310°N, 122.034°W
- NTSB ID
- 20200602X90714
Official records · WPR20LA163
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn June 2, 2020, about 1250 Pacific daylight time, a Bell 206L3 Helicopter, N65PJ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Fairfield, California. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 133 rotorcraft external load operation. The helicopter was operated by PJ Helicopters under contract from Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) to perform power line repair work. A fuel truck driver associated with the operation stated that he arrived at the landing zone about 0900 on the morning of the accident, where the accident pilot and helicopter were waiting. Flight operations began between 1100 and 1130. According to the operator around 1250, the two linemen had completed work for the day, and the pilot proceeded to their location to pick them up via longline from the tower on which they had been working. At that time, for unknown reasons, the linemen were lowered to the ground and disconnected from the long line. The helicopter circled for several minutes before it was called back, and the linemen reattached to the longline. A witness stated that he saw the accident helicopter ascend toward the lower line of a set of powerlines. The main rotor contacted the line, followed by the helicopter impacting terrain, where it rolled downhill, and came to rest in a ravine. According to PG&E, the impacted power line was about 200 ft above ground level (agl), located about mid span between two towers at the bottom of a valley. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe pilot held a co
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from powerlines while conducting external load operations, which resulted in the main rotor contacting a wire and a subsequent collision with terrain.
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Browse: California · 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.
