Bell 206L-3 N206SF

Summary

On 27 October 1994 at about 16:15 local time, a Bell 206L-3 registered N206SF was involved in an accident near Ruston, Louisiana, 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

27 October 1994 at 16:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Ruston, Louisiana, United States

Nearest airport

Ruston (5L3)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bell 206L-3

Registration

N206SF

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Meridian → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW95LA032

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER HANDLING OF THE HELICOPTER AFTER AN APPARENT LOSS OF POWER DURING A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THIS WAS THE THIRD PRACTICE AUTOROTATION WITH POWER RECOVERY INITIATED AT 1,000 FT ABOVE THE GROUND. AT 100 FT, AND WITH AN AIRSPEED OF 70 KTS, THE FLARE WAS STARTED. THE PILOT DID NOT NOTICE A TORQUE CHANGE OR YAW, AND LATER STATED HE TOOK THIS AS EVIDENCE 'THAT THE ENGINE HAD QUIT.' TOUCHDOWN WAS MADE AT A HIGHER THAN DESIRED FORWARD SPEED. ONE BLADE CONTACTED THE RIGHT VERTICAL STABILIZER, AND THE TAIL BOOM COLLAPSED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HELICOPTER. THE ENGINE WAS LATER EXAMINED, AND ALL CHECKS INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS FUNCTIONING NORMAL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.