Bell 206-L4 N207RT

Summary

On 28 January 2004 at about 15:30 local time, a Bell 206-L4 registered N207RT was involved in an accident near Patterson, Louisiana, United States. 6 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

28 January 2004 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Patterson, Louisiana, United States

Coordinates

29.7094, -91.3386

Aircraft

Bell 206-L4

Registration

N207RT

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sp-10 → Patterson

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW04LA067

Nobody was injured.

The in-flight separation of the helicopter's left winglet due to pre-existing cracks resulting in the winglet striking the tail rotor in-flight, and subsequent loss of directional control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The 10,300-hour pilot reported that while in cruise flight at an altitude of 500 feet and 110 knots, he heard a "loud" bang followed by "severe" and constant vibration. He stated that the pedal inputs "seemed" to have no effect in correcting the yawing of the aircraft. It was apparent to the pilot that continued flight would be impossible, and he elected to perform a forced landing. The pilot began a 180-degree autorotation to the left. While in the turn, the pilot made a "mayday" call, and reduced the throttle, which had no effect. Once the pilot closed the throttle, the "pounding and vibration" lessened. After the aircraft rolled out, and was level at 100 to 150 feet, the pilot realized they were going to hit the levee of the pond. He pulled a little collective to clear the levee, performed a cyclic turn to the right, and cushioned the landing. When the helicopter landed, the main rotor blade contacted the tailboom. Examination of the wreckage by the operator and a FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed structural damage to the tailboom. Strike marks on the tailboom, corresponding to the main rotor blade top path plane, were found adjacent to the #7 tail rotor drive shaft segment. Additionally, the left horizontal stabilizer winglet device was not found. Further examination revealed a ten-inch crack in the fixture securing the left winglet to the horizontal stabilizer. The right winglet, which was found, also had a pre-existing crack in the same area. The cracks were not visible during a visual inspection, and the crack area is under a line of structural adhesive used during manufacture of the horizontal stabilizer, and can only be seen when the winglet is removed. According to the operator, the 10-inch crack that was discovered on the left winglet appeared to have existed for some time. The operator stated that the winglet could have separated from helicopter in-flight, and struck the tail rotor, resulting in the "loud bang" that was heard by the pilot, and subsequent loss of directional control.Other than the winglet, examination of the helicopter, and its drive and flight control components did not reveal any pre-existing anomalies that could have contributed to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.