Bell 206L1 N108AE

Summary

On 8 November 2002 at about 18:45 local time, a Bell 206L1 registered N108AE was involved in an accident near Albany, Kentucky, United States. One person was 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

8 November 2002 at 18:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Albany, Kentucky, United States

Coordinates

36.6333, -85.1500

Aircraft

Bell 206L1

Registration

N108AE

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Albany → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD03LA015

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning, which resulted in an angle of approach in relative wind conditions conducive to a loss of helicopter tail rotor effectiveness. A factor was the obstacles surrounding the landing field.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot flew the helicopter at a steep approach angle to clear obstacles. At 30 to 35 feet above the ground, in a slow forward hover, the helicopter crossed over the approach end of the landing zone. It then started an uncommanded turn to the right that the pilot could not arrest with left pedal input. The pilot attempted to go around, but the helicopter kept rotating to the right, and the pilot's ability to reduce power was limited due to obstacles. The pilot also attempted to "weather vane" the helicopter; however, it would not align with the wind, and the rate of rotation increased. With the helicopter continuing to spin to the right, the pilot maneuvered it over the landing zone, closed the throttle, arrested the spin, and completed an autorotation. A tail strike occurred during the landing flare. According to the pilot's diagram of the accident scene, winds were about 50 degrees left of helicopter centerline during the approach. Winds reported at area airports were approximately 90-100 degrees left of helicopter centerline during the approach, at 11 to 15 knots, gusting to 18 knots. Unanticipated yaw can occur in the direction of main rotor torque reaction. Contributors to unanticipated yaw include: relative wind blowing towards the tail rotor thrust outflow, the main rotor tip vortex being directed into the tail rotor, and additional torque demand produced by power increases when airspeed drops below translational lift. The most effective way to avoid unanticipated yaw is to avoid the relative wind contributors.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.