Eurocopter Deutschland EC135T2 N914EF

Summary

On 21 April 2006 at about 08:06 local time, a Eurocopter Deutschland EC135T2 registered N914EF, operated by CJ Systems Aviation Group, was involved in an accident near Bonifay, Florida, United States. 3 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 April 2006 at 08:06

Classification

Accident

Location

Bonifay, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Tri-County Airport (1J0)

Coordinates

30.8456, -85.6161

Aircraft

Eurocopter Deutschland EC135T2

Registration

N914EF

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

CJ Systems Aviation Group

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bonifay → DeFuniak Spring

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

MIA06CA096

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain main rotor rpm and proper descent rate resulting in a hard landing. A related factor in this accident was inadvertent encounter with clouds.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that the helicopter was brought to a hover and began acceleration down runway 19 for the takeoff. At approximately 100 feet above the ground, while at 100 kts, with no visible warning, he entered clouds but the runway was still visible underneath. He started to abort and began a level deceleration. Immediately afterwards he lowered the collective, and the paramedic in the front seat said " Rotor RPM" and he looked inside to see what was happening. When he looked back outside the helicopter, about a second later, his first visible reference was trees and bushes rapidly approaching. He pulled max torque and within 1 or 2 seconds the helicopter landed level and hard, just off the side at the very end of the runway. The helicopter bounced into the air after the impact. He brought the helicopter to a hover and noted the helicopter was dangerously close to bushes and trees. He maneuvered the helicopter away from the tree line toward the runway and landed at the helipad. After landing, the right rear of the helicopter was noted lower than normal. Everyone onboard exited the helicopter without assistance. The operator stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter or any of its systems prior to the accident. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident stated that the landing skids were splayed outwards with the apparent appearance of a hard landing. Damage to the helicopter was noted to the bottom of the enclosure surrounding the tail rotor blade.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.