Bell 206B N61PP

Summary

On 22 May 1997 at about 21:10 local time, a Bell 206B registered N61PP, operated by Patrick E. Perrott, was involved in an accident near Winter Park, Florida, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 May 1997 at 21:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Winter Park, Florida, United States

Coordinates

28.5901, -81.3408

Aircraft

Bell 206B

Registration

N61PP

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Patrick E. Perrott

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Orlando → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA97FA172

3 people were seriously injured.

The pilots improper in-flight planning/decision to conduct an out of ground effect hover with a tailwind resulting in an in-flight loss of directional control due to loss of tailrotor effectiveness/unanticipated right yaw, and subsequent in-flight collision with a tree and terrain. Contributing to the accident was the manufactures inadequate written procedures in the flight manual, and the pilot's inadequate training pertaining to the loss of tailrotor effectiveness/unanticipated right yaw.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses observed the helicopter hovering out of ground effect with a tailwind. The nose of the helicopter pitched nose high and the helicopter started to hover backwards. The nose yawed right and back to the left, and then started spinning to the right descending with the nose pitching up and down before the helicopter disappeared from view behind a tree line. Examination of the helicopter revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction of the airframe, flight controls, engine assembly or accessories. Review of the pilots logbook revealed he had not flown the helicopter in six months. The pilot stated he had not received any instruction in the loss of tailrotor effectiveness or uncommanded left or right yaw. He was not aware of the conditions required for this phenomenon to occur or what corrective action should be taken. Review of the flight manual revealed no written procedures pertaining to loss of tailrotor effectiveness or unanticipated right yaw.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.