Bell 206 accident near Roseville, Pennsylvania, July 19, 2010
On July 19, 2010 at about 11:55 am local time, a Bell 206 (helicopter), registered N302MG, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Roseville, Pennsylvania. 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 pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a known wire hazard.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 2010 · about 11:55 am local time
- Place
- Roseville, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 B · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N302MG · registry record · serial 2956
- 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 of the helicopter stated that he was conducting an aerial application flight over a river. He completed a site survey, noted wires in close proximity to the site, and began application at an altitude of 40 feet. The pilot stated that approximately three quarters of the way across the river, he "momentarily lost sight" of the power lines. The main rotor blades struck the power lines, and the pilot maneuvered the helicopter over a shallow water area. The helicopter lost anti-torque control and the pilot performed a hovering autorotation to the river, where it impacted rocks and rolled to the right. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, fuselage and tail boom. The pilot stated that there were no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the helicopter, and that the accident could have been prevented with a more thorough examination of the spray site and adjustment of the spray pattern.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Physical › Sensory ability/limitation › Visual function › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,342 hours in all; 3,962 in this make and model; 91 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 12,225 as pilot in command; 1,240 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 11, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,089 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 13, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce C250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Helicopter Applicators, Inc
The flight
- Departed from: SEG Selinsgrove PA at 11:20 am
- Destination: SEG Selinsgrove PA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from SEG, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.