Bell 206L-3 N170AM

Summary

On 9 July 2021 at about 16:00 local time, a Bell 206L-3 registered N170AM, operated by The Heli Team, was involved in an accident near Berlin, Illinois, United States. One person was 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

9 July 2021 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Berlin, Illinois, United States

Coordinates

39.7642, -89.9828

Aircraft

Bell 206L-3

Registration

N170AM

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1982

Engines

1

Operator

The Heli Team

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN21LA432

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter with a stuck skid, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that while landing the helicopter on a loading truck, he felt the skids settle and spread. After a few seconds, the helicopter began to slide off the truck. He increased collective in an attempt to move forward away from the truck, but thought that the skid was stuck. The pilot was able to dislodge the skid but the helicopter rolled onto its left side, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.