Bell 206L-3 accident near Franklin, Pennsylvania, July 19, 2022
On July 19, 2022 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 1991 Bell 206L-3 (helicopter), registered N203PA, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Franklin, Pennsylvania. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadequate visual lookout while flying at a low level over a river, which resulted in a wire strike.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 2022 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Franklin, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-3, built 1991 · all 206L-3s on the register
- Registration
- N203PA · registry record · serial 51462
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was flying the helicopter following a river shoreline about 400 ft above ground level. He was scanning the horizon when he saw a “flash” and felt the helicopter shudder. He assessed the controllability of the helicopter and noted no anomalies, therefore, he continued the flight to a nearby airport. After landing, during the post flight examination of the helicopter, he found substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer of the helicopter. Furthermore, there were wire strike marks on the main rotor blade consistent with a wire strike. The operator reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Awareness of condition
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter
- Last flight review: March 24, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17,884.4 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 1, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 4,250 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce Allison M250 C-30 (turboshaft); 15,905 hours total
- Operator: D H Helicopter INC DBA
The flight
- Departed from: FKL Franklin PA at 3:30 pm
- Destination: IDI Indiana PA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 11 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,400 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 am from FKL, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KFKL 191556Z AUTO 25011G17KT 10SM SCT034 27/19 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP133 T02720189
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on December 5, 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Operator Report of Accident | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 5 pages | 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.