Brantly Helicopter B2B accident near Cullman, Alabama, April 2, 2006
On April 2, 2006, a Brantly Helicopter B2B, registered N2183U, was destroyed in an accident near Cullman, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain a visual look out while maneuvering resulting in an in-flight collision with wires and the ground. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of recent experience in rotorcraft operations.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 2006
- Place
- Cullman, Alabama
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Brantly Helicopter B2B
- Registration
- N2183U · no longer on the register · serial 345
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter was observed by witnesses descending and flying east bound over County Road 222 in the vicinity of Whitlock’s General Store between 30 to 200 feet above the ground. One witness thought the pilot was following a creek in preparation for landing at a private helipad where a mechanic is known to perform maintenance on helicopters. A change in engine noise was heard as the helicopter collided with telephone lines, the nose pitched down, the helicopter collided with the ground near a highway guardrail, rolled over on its right side, and a post crash fire ensued. Examination of the airframe, flight controls, main rotor system, tail rotor system, and engine assembly and accessories revealed no anomalies. The pilot stated to his brother he has no recollection of the events concerning the flight. Review of records revealed the pilot had flown the helicopter 4.1 hours in the last year.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 160 hours in all; 84 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 81 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,405 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2005; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IVO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Madison AL
- Destination: Cullman AL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.