Bell 206 accident near Walkerton, Indiana, September 9, 2019
On September 9, 2019 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 1979 Bell 206 (helicopter), registered N19TV, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Walkerton, Indiana. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The partial loss of engine power due to fuel contamination.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 2019 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Walkerton, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 B, built 1979 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N19TV · no longer on the register · serial 2716
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While performing an aerial application flight, the helicopter experienced a partial loss of engine power when the pilot advanced engine power to reverse course. The helicopter was substantially damaged during the forced landing when it contacted trees and landed hard. A postaccident examination of the helicopter’s engine found evidence of fuel contamination due to water and a non-ferrous material in the engine driven fuel pump/filter, fuel control unit, and fuel nozzle. The fuel control unit operated outside of acceptable limits during postaccident testing. The airframe was stored outside and subjected to the elements after the accident; however, the location of the water and debris in the engine were in areas where contamination from the elements cannot normally collect. It could not be determined when the contamination occurred or whether it originated within the company’s fuel truck tank or within the helicopter’s fuel tank.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering
- Miscellaneous/other during prior to flight
- Fuel related during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid condition
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel pump › Damaged/degraded
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine sea; single-engine sea; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,958 hours in all; 1,227 in this make and model; 408 in the last 90 days; 89 in the last 30 days; 3,835 as pilot in command; 1,198 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 15, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17,241.6 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, January 4, 2019; 302 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20J (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Crosswind Aviation Services LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 1:35 pm from KPPO, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KPPO 091735Z AUTO 13008KT 10SM SCT047 23/17 A3020 RMK AO2 T02300172=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on April 28, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Case Findings | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Logs | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.