Bell 206B N6401X

Summary

On 30 May 2010 at about 17:45 local time, a Bell 206B registered N6401X, operated by City of Memphis, was involved in an accident near Memphis, Tennessee, 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

30 May 2010 at 17:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Memphis, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

Memphis Police Heliport (27TN)

Coordinates

35.2497, -90.0164

Aircraft

Bell 206B

Registration

N6401X

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

City of Memphis

Operating rule

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Memphis → Memphis

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA10TA292

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm and the certificated flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, 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

During a public use training flight, the certificated flight instructor (CFI) simulated an engine failure as the helicopter was climbing through approximately 450 feet above ground level (agl). He then advised the pilot to terminate the maneuver with a power recovery. Approximately 100 feet agl the CFI told the pilot to increase the engine torque to full power. Shortly thereafter, the CFI heard the low rotor rpm warning and relayed to the pilot that he was assuming authority of the helicopter's controls. The CFI advanced the throttle to 100 percent power while both pilots remained on the controls. During the flare, the tail stinger struck the ground and the helicopter landed hard. The main rotor came into contact with the tail boom aft of the horizontal stabilizer and severed it. There was no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomaly or malfunction with the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.