Bell 206B-3 N53MA

Summary

On 9 December 1990 at about 18:30 local time, a Bell 206B-3 registered N53MA, operated by River City Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Coeur D'alene, Idaho, 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

9 December 1990 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Coeur D'alene, Idaho, United States

Nearest airport

Coeur D'alene (COE)

Coordinates

47.5901, -116.9098

Aircraft

Bell 206B-3

Registration

N53MA

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

River City Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA90FA079

Nobody was injured.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (PIC) TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM, AND A DELAY BY THE FAA INSPECTOR (FLIGHT EXAMINER) IN TAKING REMEDICAL ACTION.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT (PIC) AND AN FAA INSPECTOR (CHECK PLT) WERE ON A COMBINED FLT INSTRUCTOR & FAR PART 135 CHECK FLT. THE CHECK PLT INSTRUCTED THE PIC TO EXECUTE A SIMULATED FIXED-TAIL ROTOR FAILURE; THE CHECK PLT SIMULATED THE FAILURE BY HOLDING THE RGT PEDAL SLIGHTLY IN, WHILE THE PIC REMOVED HIS FEET FROM THE PEDALS. THE PIC INITIATED A RUN-ON LANDING WITH AN ESTIMATED 10 DEG RGT YAW. HE RPRTD THAT JUST BEFORE LANDING, AT ABOUT 5 MPH & 2 FT AGL, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO YAW FURTHER TO THE RIGHT. HE RETARDED THE THROTTLE TO ALIGN THE HELICOPTER WITH THE GND TRACK & INCREASED THE COLLECTIVE TO CUSHION THE LANDING. THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN FIRMLY. NO PROBLEM WITH HELICOPTER WAS NOTED AT THAT TIME; HOWEVER, AFTER THE FLT, WRINKLES WERE NOTED ON THE TAIL BOOM, SIMILAR TO THOSE DEPICTED IN BELL OPNS SAFETY NOTICE (OSN) 206-84-13.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.