You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.
| Date: | Friday 11 January 2019 |
| Time: | 22:00 LT |
| Type: |  Bell 206B JetRanger II |
| Owner/operator: | Tri-Rotor Spray |
| Registration: | N88HC |
| MSN: | 1576 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1975 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 8069 hours |
| Engine model: | Rolls-Royce C20B |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Yuma, AZ -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | Somerton, AZ (AZ25) |
| Somerton, AZ (AZ25) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
During the nighttime visual flight rules flight, with no moon illumination, the commercial pilot was surveying a field to establish visual contact with reported power transmission wires prior to conducting an aerial application. The wires spanned the field along a west/easterly heading. While on a northerly heading, the pilot flew over the field and did not provide adequate separation from the wires. Subsequently the helicopter struck the wires at an altitude of about 30 ft above ground level and impacted terrain.
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power transmission wires while flying at low altitude in nighttime conditions.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB WPR19TA061
FAA register: https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=88HC
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 3 November 2011 | N88HC | Tri Rotor Spray | 0 | nr. Buckeye, Arizona | |
min |
| Fuel exhaustion | ||||||
Location
Media:
USA, AZ, Yuma - Crop duster helicopter crash reported near Highway 95.https://t.co/QxIYz5hZjm pic.twitter.com/3Ayum6YU1G
— PLANES OF LEGEND (@PlanesOfLegend) 12 janvier 2019
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 12-Jan-2019 07:32 | gerard57 | Added |
| 12-Jan-2019 09:17 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Embed code, Narrative, ] |
| 12-Jan-2019 11:16 | Aerossurance | Updated [Location, Embed code, Narrative, ] |
| 12-Jan-2019 13:13 | RobertMB | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Source, ] |
| 21-Sep-2021 16:16 | Aerossurance | Updated [Narrative, ] |
| 08-Jul-2022 18:42 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative, Category, Accident report, ] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2025 Flight Safety Foundation