Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lincoln, Nebraska
Saturday, July 26, 2014 13:35 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On July 26, 2014, at 1335 central daylight time, N240SJ, a Bell 206B, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a soybean field after a total loss of engine power near Lincoln, Nebraska. The commercial pilot was not injured. The helicopter was registered to and operated by a private company. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local, aerial application flight that was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. The pilot stated that before the accident occurred, he had placed 25 gallons of fuel on board the helicopter. He then departed and began to spray a cornfield. About 12-15 minutes into the flight, when the helicopter was about 16 feet above the ground, at an airspeed of 80 miles per hour (mph), the turbine-engine lost total power. The pilot immediately entered an autorotation to a soybean field that was directly in front of him. He said the helicopter landed and slid about 10-15 feet and struck a berm. The tail boom hit the ground and separated from the airframe.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/26/2014
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1335
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Lincoln
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site --
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 7
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 --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source --
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions --
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source LIN FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 30 2014 4:29PM
User who most recently changed record yeal
Basic weather conditions --
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N240SJ
NTSB Number CEN14LA390
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed --
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 206B
Aircraft Series Identifier B
Aircraft Serial Number 2354
Certified Max Gross Weight 3201
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 4
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SAMARITAN AIR INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City JUPITER
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 334781909
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name SAMARITAN AIR INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City JUPITER
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 334781909
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event --
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City --
Departure State --
Departure Country --
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 30 2014 4:31PM
User who most recently changed record yeal
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --