Bell 206A N123SD

Summary

On 21 November 2007 at about 19:00 local time, a Bell 206A registered N123SD, operated by Gerald Haye, was involved in an accident near Twin Falls, Idaho, 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

21 November 2007 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Twin Falls, Idaho, United States

Nearest airport

Joslin Field (TWF)

Coordinates

42.4819, -114.4711

Aircraft

Bell 206A

Registration

N123SD

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Gerald Haye

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Twin Falls → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA08CA037

Nobody was injured.

The pilot misjudged the flare which resulted in a hard landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot indicated that the purpose of the flight was to finish the post annual flight check and to check the autorotational rpm during a simulated engine out condition. The pilot was flying in the left seat and there was an observer in the right seat. He entered a 180-degree autorotation and at 70 feet above ground level, began a gradual flare. During the flare, the helicopter contacted the asphalt surface of the taxiway. The helicopter hopped and then came to a stop. The pilot initiated another pattern and power recovery autorotation. He then hover taxied to the maintenance hangar ramp area and performed a normal shutdown. Post flight inspection revealed a wrinkle in the tail boom.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.