Bell 206B N422RH

Summary

On 21 November 2024 at about 16:35 local time, a Bell 206B registered N422RH was involved in an accident near Lakeland, Florida, 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

21 November 2024 at 16:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Lakeland, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Lakeland Linder Intl (LAL)

Coordinates

27.9944, -82.0157

Aircraft

Bell 206B

Registration

N422RH

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1981

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Brookville → Lakeland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA25LA059

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain yaw control during a tailwind approach, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness, an uncommanded spin, and subsequent hard landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during the approach to land, he initiated a left turn to align with the wind and landing pad when the helicopter entered an uncommanded right spin. He attributed the loss of control to an 18-knot tailwind and described the event as consistent with a loss of tail rotor effectiveness. He was unable to regain control, and the helicopter descended in a spiraling right turn before impacting the ground. A post-accident review of photographs by the NTSB investigator confirmed that the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.