Bell 206L-3+ N2770X

Summary

On 10 December 1991 at about 14:55 local time, a Bell 206L-3+ registered N2770X, operated by Bell Helicopter Textron, was involved in an accident near Arlington, Texas, United States. 2 people were 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

10 December 1991 at 14:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Arlington, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Arlington Municipal (F54)

Coordinates

32.7498, -97.0794

Aircraft

Bell 206L-3+

Registration

N2770X

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Bell Helicopter Textron

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW92LA040

Nobody was injured.

THE HELICOPTER'S AUTOROTATIONAL LANDING PERFORMANCE CAPABILITY WAS EXCEEDED. FACTORS WERE THE PROPER DESCENT RATE WAS NOT POSSIBLE FOR THE PIC AND SUFFICIENT INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT PROVIDED.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE EXPERIMENTAL CERTIFICATED HELICOPTER WAS BEING TEST FLOWN AS PART OF THE HEIGHT VELOCITY DIAGRAM DEVELOPMENT FOR THE 206L4 CERTIFICATION PROGRAM. THE TEST PILOT WAS CONDUCTING ABORTED TAKEOFFS WHEN AT 30 FEET AND 50 KNOTS HE INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION. THE COLLECTIVE WAS LOWERED SLIGHTLY AND A HIGH DESCENT RATE OCCURRED. DURING THE DESCENT THE MAIN ROTOR RPM DECREASED AND THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD RESULTING IN TAILBOOM BUCKLING AND SEPARATION OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT. THE PILOT'S APPLICATION OF COLLECTIVE BEFORE TOUCHDOWN DID NOT ARREST THE DESCENT RATE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.