Bell 206B accident near Cuba City, Wisconsin, July 21, 2024
On July 21, 2024 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 1993 Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N67110, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Cuba City, Wisconsin. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a wire during an agricultural application pass.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 2024 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cuba City, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B, built 1993 · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N67110 · registry record · serial 5109
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was conducting agricultural spray operations at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he was distracted by ground vehicle traffic and the helicopter struck a wire. He lowered the collective, and the helicopter impacted the field. The helicopter rolled forward and came to rest on the left side of the fuselage. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system and the tail boom separated. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations.
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
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,333 hours in all; 283 in this make and model; 229 in the last 90 days; 176 in the last 30 days; 2,309 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 23, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,116.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce 250-C20J (turboshaft); 12,645 hours total
- Operator: Mf Helicopters LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Darlington WI at 11:30 am
- Destination: Cuba City WI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 am from KPVB, 4 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KPVB 211555Z AUTO 35003KT 10SM SCT019 SCT090 24/19 A3015 RMK AO1 T02400194=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
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.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 27, 2024. 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 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | 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.