Bell 206B N21166

Summary

On 7 October 1999 at about 23:00 local time, a Bell 206B registered N21166, operated by Texas Dept. of Public Safety, was involved in an accident near Slaton, 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

7 October 1999 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Slaton, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Slaton Municipal (F49)

Coordinates

33.4310, -101.6391

Aircraft

Bell 206B

Registration

N21166

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Texas Dept. of Public Safety

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lubbock → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW00TA007

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's initiation of the simulated emergency procedure at a low altitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During a 300-foot agl practice 180-degree autorotation, approximately 90 degrees into the turn, the pilot allowed 'a high sink-rate to develop', and began to pull pitch to arrest the descent. The pilot started to 'roll the throttle' open and he observed the N2 and Nr needles join at 92 percent. At this point, the left 180-degree turn was completed, and the aircraft rolled out parallel to and west of the runway with approximately 40 knots indicated airspeed. The pilot continued to roll on throttle and increase the collective in order 'to hold the helicopter about 3 feet above the ground.' However, the 'rotor rpm decreased too low', and the helicopter settled to the ground and slid approximately 60 feet. The left skid toe and lower wire cutter dug into the ground, and the helicopter rocked forward onto the toes of the skids. Subsequently, the main rotor blades contacted and severed the tail boom, and the helicopter rolled over, and came to rest on its left side. The operator stated that 'this maneuver could be entered from a higher agl altitude, this would have prevented the accident.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.