Bell 206L-3 N721LL

Summary

On 7 September 2013 at about 21:30 local time, a Bell 206L-3 registered N721LL, operated by State of Illinois, was involved in an accident near Amistad, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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

7 September 2013 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Amistad, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

35.9181, -103.1531

Aircraft

Bell 206L-3

Registration

N721LL

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

State of Illinois

Operating rule

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Dalhart → Albuquerque

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13TA535

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to arrest the descent following an abrupt maneuver to avoid birds, which resulted in an impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the helicopter was established in cruise flight on a west-southwest course at 300 feet above ground level before the accident. The pilot stated that about 25 minutes into the flight, he observed "multiple large black birds" in the helicopter's flightpath and initiated an "immediate hard turn to the right to avoid" them. He subsequently noted an increase in main rotor speed and adjusted accordingly. The pilot rolled out on a reciprocal heading, leveled the helicopter, and began to slow down. He noticed that the descent rate was not decreasing. The helicopter touched down "hard," seemed to bounce and came to rest about 100 yards from the initial touchdown point. The pilot reported no preaccident failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.