Bell 206A N206HS

Summary

On 20 May 1994 at about 22:30 local time, a Bell 206A registered N206HS, operated by Petersen, Dane A., was involved in an accident near Ukiah, California, 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

20 May 1994 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Ukiah, California, United States

Nearest airport

Private Helipad (NONE)

Coordinates

39.1192, -123.2808

Aircraft

Bell 206A

Registration

N206HS

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Petersen, Dane A.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Piercy → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX94LA221

2 people had minor injuries.

the pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing wind conditions which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness event and a subsequent loss of directional control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he was on approach to a ridge line landing zone. He said he was passing through translational lift at 20 knots and 70 feet when a gust of wind induced a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and a resultant loss of directional control. The pilot reported that the helicopter began to spin and he could not regain directional control prior to ground contact. After the impact sequence, a ground fire erupted which consumed the helicopter. The helicopter was an early model Bell 206A and was equipped with the small tail rotor.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.