Bell 206-B N222GR

Summary

On 19 September 2012 at about 19:25 local time, a Bell 206-B registered N222GR, operated by Chesapeake Bay Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Mammoth Lakes, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 September 2012 at 19:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Mammoth Lakes, California, United States

Coordinates

37.6689, -118.6186

Aircraft

Bell 206-B

Registration

N222GR

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1975

Engines

1

Operator

Chesapeake Bay Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mammoth → Mammoth

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12LA426

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s inability to maintain sufficient main rotor rpm while maneuvering in highdensity altitude conditions, which resulted in a precautionary landing and subsequent rollover.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While performing an aerial survey of transmission structures and wires in mountainous terrain at an elevation of about 7,500 feet mean sea level, the pilot initiated a climb to clear a ridge ahead. When he realized that there was no response to an increase in collective, and, with the torque nearing 100 percent, he chose to maneuver the helicopter left of a set of wires, avoid approaching terrain, and establish an approach for a precautionary landing to a dirt road. The pilot reported that, during the approach, he was unable to arrest the helicopter's descent, and, at the same time, he heard a noise that he assumed was the low rotor rpm warning. The helicopter subsequently impacted terrain just short of the road, rolled over on its left side, and was consumed by the postcrash fire. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the nearest weather reporting facility, which was located 10.5 miles west of the accident site, reported wind at 4 knots, gusting to 14 knots, and a temperature of 24 degrees C. The calculated density altitude for the conditions was about 9,742 feet, which would have affected the helicopter's climb performance.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.