DALLAS, TX, USA
N16981
BELL 206B
WITNESSES OBSERVED THE HELICOPTER CIRCLING A 523 FT, FREE STANDING, COMMUNICATIONS TOWER. AFTER CIRCLING SEVERAL TIMES, HELICOPTER PASSED CLOSE TO THE TOWER & A MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK IT AT THE 451 FT LEVEL. THE OUTBOARD PORTION OF THE ROTOR BLADE SEPARATED AS WELL AS SOME PORTIONS OF THE TOWER, INCLUDING A X-BRACE. THE HELICOPTER THEN SPUN & TUMBLED TO THE GROUND. IT IMPACTED IN A NOSE-LOW, INVERTED ATTITUDE & BURNED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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