The commercial pilot of a Bell 206 on an August 18 agricultural mission near Cresco, Iowa, escaped injury when the helicopter he was flying collided with terrain during an emergency landing following an engine failure.
According to the NTSB preliminary report, the pilot departed with 25 gallons of fuel and 80 gallons of chemicals to spray a bean field near Cresco. About five minutes into the application, the engine lost power and the pilot initiated an autorotation to a waterway on the side of a hill. During a touchdown on uneven terrain, the main rotor blades contacted and severed the tailboom. The pilot shut down the engine and exited the helicopter. The Bell 206 was substantially damaged in the incident.
The helicopter was registered to Fly Hangar 13.