Bell 206B N117V

Summary

On 19 August 1989 at about 16:50 local time, a Bell 206B registered N117V was involved in an accident near Fruithurst, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 August 1989 at 16:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Fruithurst, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

33.7291, -85.4302

Aircraft

Bell 206B

Registration

N117V

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tuscaloosa → Anniston

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL89FA200

Nobody was injured.

PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MAIN ROTOR RPM WHILE EXECUTING AN AUTOROTATION WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW AUTOROTATION PROCEDURES AFTER THE REPORTED ENGINE FAILURE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

REPORTEDLY, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WHILE PATROLLING UTILITY LINES AT 700 FEET AGL. HE ENTERED AN AUTOROTATIVE GLIDE TO AN OPEN FIELD. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD TO AVOID TREES CLOSE TO THE GROUND, AT WHICH TIME MAIN ROTOR RPM DECAYED. THE PILOT COULD NOT LEVEL THE HELICOPTER BEFORE THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER EXAMINATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEM. THE ENGINE AND ATTACHED COMPONENTS WERE EXAMINED, AND NO MATERIAL OR SYSTEM MALFUNCTION WAS DETECTED. HOWEVER, THE HELICOPTER WAS CAPABLE OF AUTOROTATING NORMALLY. THE PILOT ALLOWED THE ROTOR RPM TO DECAY BELOW A POINT WHERE HE COULD NOT RECOVER WITHOUT THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINING DAMAGE. THIS WAS THE SECOND ACCIDENT WHERE THIS PILOT WAS INVOLVED AS PILOT IN COMMAND AND AUTOROTATIVE PROCEDURES WERE IN QUESTION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.