Bell 206 accident near Dixon, Kentucky, July 6, 2017
On July 6, 2017 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 1970 Bell 206 (helicopter), registered N8159J, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Dixon, Kentucky. 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 see and avoid power lines while maneuvering at a low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to adequately identify hazards to flight during agricultural application operation planning.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 2017 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Dixon, Kentucky · 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 1970 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N8159J · registry record · serial 512
- 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 helicopter pilot reported that he was maneuvering at low altitude during an agricultural application flight. While in a left turn, he did not see the power lines until they were very close. He increased the collective to climb, and he banked right to avoid impact. However, the tail rotor struck the power lines, and the helicopter lost tail rotor effectiveness. The pilot conducted an autorotation and landed the helicopter, but the tailboom impacted trees. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor gear box, the tail rotor blades, and the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident 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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Loss of tail rotor effectiveness during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Autorotation Off-field or emergency landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during enroute
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Effect on equipment
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Flight planning/navigation › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,710 hours in all; 1,204 in this make and model; 163 in the last 90 days; 63 in the last 30 days; 1,572 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 14, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,775 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 18, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 3,201 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royc 250-C20 (turboshaft); 6,455 hours total
- Operator: Forming Agrotors INC
The flight
- Departed from: Dixon KY
- Destination: Dixon KY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 am from KRPJ, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 2, 2017. 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 | Photo | 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.