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ERA22LA347

2022-07-19 · Franklin, Pennsylvania, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Current FAA registration · N203PA

Make / Model
BELL 206L-3
Year of manufacture
1991 · 31 years old at event
Engine
ALLISON 250-C30 SER (650 hp)
Seats / Engines
7 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19910429
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A19E6E

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s inadequate visual lookout while flying at a low level over a river, which resulted in a wire strike.

Factual narrative

The pilot was flying the helicopter following a river shoreline about 400 ft above ground level. He was scanning the horizon when he saw a “flash” and felt the helicopter shudder. He assessed the controllability of the helicopter and noted no anomalies, therefore, he continued the flight to a nearby airport. After landing, during the post flight examination of the helicopter, he found substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer of the helicopter. Furthermore, there were wire strike marks on the main rotor blade consistent with a wire strike. The operator reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Wire-Awareness of condition
  • — Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring environment-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2022_ERA22LA347.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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