Bell 206L3 N17237

Summary

On 29 April 2000 at about 23:10 local time, a Bell 206L3 registered N17237 was involved in an accident near Salt Marsh. 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

29 April 2000 at 23:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Salt Marsh

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bell 206L3

Registration

N17237

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Salt Marsh → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW00LA137

Nobody was injured.

The company mechanic's failure to replace the bolt's cotter key properly and the subsequent loss of the nut, which then resulted in the tail rotor control disconnection and the pilot's inability to maintain aircraft control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the helicopter lost tail rotor response while approaching an offshore platform. The pilot elected to make an autorotative emergency landing to the water. According to witnesses, the helicopter began the autorotation and proceeded to rotate to the left and 'pitch nose down.' The helicopter entered a steep descent, and the pilot reported that he could not control the helicopter. Prior to impacting the water, the helicopter assumed level flight and the emergency floats deployed. Upon impact with the water, the helicopter rolled right and came to rest inverted in the water. According to the operator's maintenance superintendent, a mechanic either omitted a bolt's cotter key or installed it improperly, which resulted in the disconnect of the tail rotor control rod assembly from the control lever located at the rear of the tail rotor gear box.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.