Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Isom, Kentucky 41824
Friday, December 10, 2010 11:55 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During a local aerial power line observation flight, the helicopter impacted the static wire for the power line. The pilot reported that he never lost control of the helicopter, but landed as soon as he could in a parking lot, which was about 1/4 mile from the wire strike. He further stated that prior to the wire strike; there were no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector that responded to the accident site reported that a 12 inch piece of the 7-strand wire remained in the wire cutter located below the main rotor mast.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a known wire hazard during an aerial observation flight.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/10/2010
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1155
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Isom
Event State KENTUCKY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 41824
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 371020N
Event Location Longitude 0825241W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 319
Weather Observation Facility ID JKL
Elevation of weather observation facility 1381
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 31
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.14
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 28505
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern Region C-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 13 2011 11:53AM
User who most recently changed record andj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N263CH
NTSB Number ERA11LA083
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 206B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 2778
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 13 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 23
Airframe Hours 3348
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name WHITE OAK FLIGHT SERVICE INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City BECKLEY
Aircraft Owner State WV
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 25801
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Albatross Air, Inc.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Beaver
Operator State WV
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 25813
Operator Code VJBA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number VJBA904B
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Whitesburg
Departure State KY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1035
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Whitesburg
Destination State KY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 25 2011 1:36PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --