Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

New Baltimore, Pennsylvania 15553
Wednesday, May 22, 1985 9:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A POWER LINE DURING AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATIONS. THERE WAS NO MALFUNCTION OF EQUIPMENT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED INTO TREES & WAS DAMAGED. THE PLT SAID THAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR A CUT OFF MARKER IN THE FORM OF A BALLOON WHEN HE LOOKED UP AND SAW THE WIRES. IT WAS TOO LATE TO AVOID THE COLLISION BUT HE TRIED TO DECELERATE PRIOR TO THE IMPACT. AFTER STRIKING THE WIRES THE ACFT DESCENDED AND LODGED IN TREES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/22/1985
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City NEW BALTIMORE
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 15553
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 750 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 60
Weather Observation Facility ID AOO
Elevation of weather observation facility 1504
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 35
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2694
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 22 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 30404
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9901K
NTSB Number NYC85FGM04
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 206B
Aircraft Series Identifier 206B
Aircraft Serial Number 1944
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Oct 1 1984 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 70
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LEFFLER TRANSPORTATION CO.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 225 EAST MAIN ST
Aircraft Owner City RICHLAND
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 17087
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RICHARD E. MYERS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 7429 ALLENTOWN BLVD.
Operator City HARRISBURG
Operator State PA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 17112
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City NEW BALTIMORE
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --