Bell 206B N206AF

Summary

On 23 May 2004 at about 21:15 local time, a Bell 206B registered N206AF, operated by Thomas J. Paulus, was involved in an accident near Auburn, Washington, United States. 5 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

23 May 2004 at 21:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Auburn, Washington, United States

Coordinates

47.2667, -122.1453

Aircraft

Bell 206B

Registration

N206AF

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Thomas J. Paulus

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bow → Enumclaw

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA04LA090

Nobody was injured.

Loss of control for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that while in cruise flight at about 900 to 1,000 feet above ground level, 95 knots, and 80% torque, without warning, the helicopter suddenly lost altitude and yawed violently to the left and rapidly rolled (pilot unsure as to which direction). The pilot initiated an autorotation to a field, maneuvering to avoid trees. The pilot stated that during the flare, he pulled in collective, and the helicopter yawed, so he "rolled off the throttle." The helicopter touched down with almost no forward speed, the right landing skid collapsed and rolled over onto its right side. The pilot stated that he did not recall hearing the engine out beeper or the low rotor RPM horn and he did not note the engine or rotor RPM indications during the descent. Post accident inspection of the airframe and subsequent inspection and teardown of the engine and associated components did not find evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.