Bell 206A-1 N136C

Summary

On 22 July 2000 at about 17:00 local time, a Bell 206A-1 registered N136C was involved in an accident near Bennettsville, South Carolina, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 July 2000 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Bennettsville, South Carolina, United States

Coordinates

34.6308, -79.6791

Aircraft

Bell 206A-1

Registration

N136C

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Pageland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA00LA227

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to use proper remedial action to counteract a loss of tail rotor effectiveness resulting in collision with terrain during the subsequent uncontrolled descent.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot and one passenger, the rotorcraft lifted off the airstrip to about a 2 to 3 foot hover, and immediately commenced a violent right spin that terminated with the landing skid and nose colliding with the terrain. The main rotor severed the tail boom and collided with the terrain, resulting in the rotorcraft rolling over on its right side. The FAA reported the wreckage revealed no evidence of mechanical failure, and that the rotorcraft was within its maximum takeoff weight and loading limits. The density altitude was 2,206 feet.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.