Aviation Crash Map

Bell 206B-III N2773R

11 December 1993 · Flagstaff, Arizona, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 11 December 1993 at about 00:00 local time, a Bell 206B-III registered N2773R, operated by Warren Smith, was involved in an accident near Flagstaff, Arizona, 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.

The record

Date
at 00:00
Classification
Accident
Location
Flagstaff, Arizona, United States
Coordinates
35.2899, -111.3209
Aircraft
Bell 206B-III
Registration
N2773R
Category
Helicopter
Engines
1
Operator
Warren Smith
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
LAX94LA075

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
2 0 0 0 2

Probable cause

The pilot's improper initiation of an emergency autorotation into unsuitable terrain and subsequent hard landing and rollover. A false annunciator indication, a failure of the N1 tach generator, the pilot's continued flight with a known aircraft defect, and the pilot's improper identification of the failed N1 gauge were factors in this accident.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

FOLLOWING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION, THE HELICOPTER HAD EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT ILLUMINATION OF THE 'ENGINE OUT' ANNUNCIATOR LIGHT. THE PILOT CONTINUED FLYING AND MONITORED THE ENGINE INSTRUMENTS, PARTICULARLY THE N2 POWER TURBINE GAUGE. DURING THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, THE ANNUNCIATOR AGAIN FLICKERED AND THEN STAYED ON. IN ADDITION, THE 'ENGINE OUT' HORN ALSO SOUNDED; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE PARAMETERS REMAINED NORMAL. THE ANNUNCIATOR LIGHT AND HORN WILL ACTIVATE IF THE N1 GAS PRODUCER FALLS BELOW 55 PERCENT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING A TURN, THE N2 BEGAN DECREASING AND HE ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER FOLLOWING A HARD LANDING. POSTACCIDENT TESTS REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE OPERATED WITHIN NORMAL SPECIFICATIONS. THE N2 TACH GENERATOR OPERATED NORMAL. THE N1 TACH GENERATOR FAILED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Bell 206 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
8 Feb 1993 Bell 206L-1
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no coordinates
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29 Oct 1993 Bell 206B
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no coordinates
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no coordinates
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23 Feb 1993 Bell 206B
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30 Jun 1993 Bell 206L-3
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Agoura Hills, California, United States - Minor injuries -

All 1,732 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
25 Jan 1993 Piper PA-23-150
N2144P
Eloy, Arizona, United States
no coordinates
R.finkenbine & R. Kestler Serious injuries -
8 Aug 1993 Bell 206L1
N444CR
Tusayan, Arizona, United States Papillon Airways, Inc. Serious injuries -
26 Nov 1993 Bellanca 8KCAB
N50412
Buckeye, Arizona, United States LOU ANN Behringer Minor injuries -
1 May 1993 Mooney M20J
N201GK
Sedona, Arizona, United States
no coordinates
- Fatal 2
26 Apr 1993 Beechcraft 58
N158WB
Tucson, Arizona, United States JAY M. Supkoff Fatal 2
3 Dec 1993 Braegger GL NIEUPORT 17
N124DK
Chandler, Arizona, United States
no coordinates
Michael K. Braegger No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States