Bell 206B N72HP

Summary

On 14 April 1993 at about 07:47 local time, a Bell 206B registered N72HP, operated by Ohio State Police, was involved in an accident near Lucasville, Ohio, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 April 1993 at 07:47

Classification

Accident

Location

Lucasville, Ohio, United States

Coordinates

38.8698, -82.9906

Aircraft

Bell 206B

Registration

N72HP

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Ohio State Police

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

NYC93GA082

2 people had minor injuries.

LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. A FACTOR WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE UNFAVORABLE WINDS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT WAS ON APPROACH AT ABOUT 150-200 FT AGL WHEN THE HELICOPTER BEGAN ROTATING CLOCKWISE ABOUT THE NOSE IN A NOSE-DOWN ATTITUDE. IT DESCENDED TO THE GROUND AND LANDED HARD IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE COLLAPSING THE LANDING SKIDS. THE HELICOPTER THEN ROLLED OVER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE, AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE MADE A WIDE RIGHT TURN TO ALIGN WITH THE LANDING AREA WHEN THE NOSE YAWED RIGHT ABOUT 45 DEG. THE HELICOPTER ROTATED TWICE DESPITE THE PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO CORRECT WITH FULL LEFT PEDAL AND LESS COLLECTIVE. HE STATED THE ENGINE APPEARED TO BE OPERATING AT FULL POWER AFTER THE COLLISION. THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. BASED ON ARMY AND BELL HELICOPTER DATA, THE AIRSPEED AND WIND COMBINATION WERE CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE FOR THE OCCURENCE OF THE LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.