Bell 206L-1 N27AE

Summary

On 31 January 2003 at about 18:30 local time, a Bell 206L-1 registered N27AE was involved in an accident near West Plains, Missouri, 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

31 January 2003 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

West Plains, Missouri, United States

Nearest airport

West Plains Municipal Airport (UNO)

Coordinates

36.8783, -91.9033

Aircraft

Bell 206L-1

Registration

N27AE

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

West Plains → West Plains

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI03LA062

Nobody was injured.

The excessive descent rate that required an abrupt flare, resulting in the main rotor severing the tailboom.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

At the completion of a simulated autorotation maneuver the main rotor severed the tailboom. The check airman reported that at approximately 20 feet above ground level he "determined the sink rate was excessive" and he decided to perform a "power recovery." The check airman stated, "I repositioned my hand, started opening the throttle while leveling the aircraft and applying a cushioning pitch pull." The helicopter impacted off the left side of the runway with "the skids aligned with the direction of travel slightly aft skid low." The check airman reported, "The aircraft rocked up onto the toes of the skids and I increased collective pitch and applied aft cyclic, when I did the main rotor impacted the tailboom severing it."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.