Bell 206 accident near Carthage, Illinois, August 6, 2023

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The air medical helicopter was dispatched to a remote area to pick up a patient in night visual meteorological conditions. While enroute, the aircrew received received a landing zone (LZ) brief that included information that a wire fence was located on the south side of the road. Upon approach to the LZ, the pilot and the flight nurse transitioned to and used night vision goggles (NVGs). The pilot performed both high and low reconnaissance and the aircrew verified that there were no poles or wires present. The flight nurse reported that she observed the fence on the south side of the road during this time; however, she thought the fence was farther away than it was. The pilot maneuvered the helicopter to a 10-ft hover over the road; the aircrew identified the wire fence on the south side of the road and noted that there were ditches on both sides of the road. The pilot initiated a right pedal turn and he planned to land so that the cabin door was oriented toward the accident scene. As the helicopter touched down, the pilot heard a “pop” noise and he felt feedback in the tail rotor pedals. The pilot realized the tail rotor system impacted the wire fence; he lowered the collective immediately and performed an emergency shutdown. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, the tail boom, the tail rotor driveshaft, and the two tail rotor blades. At the time of the accident, the moon was bright with 73% of its disk illuminated and it was at a relative angle of 25° above the horizon. According to NVG training references, terrain interpretation is generally more difficult when the moon is low on the horizon due to the lower light level and the shadows caused by the low angle. is the pilot likely had difficulty viewing the fence while using NVGs due to the lower light level and the presence of shadows. It is likely that, during the landing, the aircrew misjudged the distance of the wire fence due to the reduced distance estimation and depth perception while using NVGs.

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.

Photographs from the investigation 10 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them

Photograph 1 – View of the right side of the helicopter at the accident site, during night conditionsPhotograph 2 – View of the left side of the helicopter at the accident site, during night conditionsPhotograph 3 – View of the left side of the helicopter at the accident site, during day conditionsPhotograph 4 – View of the front of the helicopter at the accident site, during day conditionsPhotograph 5 – View of the right side of the helicopter at the accident site, during day conditionsPhotograph 6 – View of the empennage at the accident site, during day conditionsPhotograph 7 – View of the vertical stabilizer and the fence at the accident site, during day conditionsPhotograph 8 – View of the damage sustained to the tail boom and the tail rotor driveshaft.Photograph 9 – View of the damage sustained to one of the tail rotor bladesPhotograph 10 – View of the damage sustained to the one of the tail rotor blades

The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.