Bell 206 N820H

Summary

On 4 February 2021 at about 05:15 local time, a Bell 206 registered N820H, operated by Roma Air Corporation, was involved in an accident near Pahokee, Florida, 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

4 February 2021 at 05:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Pahokee, Florida, United States

Coordinates

26.7466, -80.6556

Aircraft

Bell 206

Registration

N820H

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2008

Engines

1

Operator

Roma Air Corporation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

ERA21LA126

Nobody was injured.

A loss of main rotor rpm for reasons that could not be determined, which resulted in an autorotation and a subsequent hard landing and rollover.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had been performing low-altitude agricultural operations for about two hours when he heard an aural “chirp” with no associated caution panel lights. After scanning the instruments, he observed nothing abnormal, then immediately the low rotor rpm horn sounded, and the helicopter started to lose altitude as the rotor speed decayed. He briefly observed a red engine light on the instrument panel, and initiated an autorotation from an altitude about 50 ft above the ground and airspeed of about 35 knots. The helicopter landed hard on uneven terrain and rolled over; a post-crash fire ensued. The pilot and passenger egressed without injury. Although examination of the engine and its recovered components revealed no evidence of preaccident mechanical anomalies, the extent of the impact and thermal damage precluded a thorough examination, and the reason for the loss of rotor rpm could not be determined based on the available information.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.