Aviation Crash Map

Bell 206B N999TV

11 July 1996 · Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, United States · Serious injuries

Summary

On 11 July 1996 at about 20:30 local time, a Bell 206B registered N999TV, operated by Scenic Helicopter Rides, Ltd, was involved in an accident near Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, United States. 5 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 4 had minor injuries. 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 20:30
Classification
Accident
Location
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, United States
Coordinates
35.7890, -83.5510
Aircraft
Bell 206B
Registration
N999TV
Category
Helicopter
Engines
1
Operator
Scenic Helicopter Rides, Ltd
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Unknown
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
MIA96LA180

People

1 person was seriously injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
5 0 1 4 0

Probable cause

fatigue failure of the engine PC line, induced by damage from improper installation, which resulted in a loss of engine power and an autorotative landing to unsuitable terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter was refueled before flight. About 1 minute after takeoff, at about 500 feet agl, the engine lost power. The pilot enter an autorotation and established a glide to a field ahead. As he approached the field, he pull up the collective to clear a house and a ditch. Subsequently, the main rotor rpm decreased and the helicopter touched down hard. Postcrash examination of the helicopter revealed the engine PC air line had separated near the attaching nut on the compressor scroll end. Metallurgical examination showed the tube had separated due to fatigue cracking, which was induced by installation damage. No other preaccident failure or malfunction of the engine, helicopter structure, or flight controls was found. Allison Engine Company representatives stated the engine would go to minimum fuel flow after separation of the PC line.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Bell 206 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
22 Aug 1996 Bell 206B
N3896V
Glenns Ferry, Idaho, United States Idaho Helicopters Serious injuries -
23 Aug 1996 Bell 206B
N206FT
Greybull, Wyoming, United States - No injuries -
3 Feb 1996 Bell 206B
N2184Z
Cushing, Oklahoma, United States Corporate Helicopters, Inc. Serious injuries -
1 Nov 1996 Bell 206B
N90144
Supai, Arizona, United States - Minor injuries -
8 Jul 1996 Bell 206B
N2761F
Juneau, Alaska, United States - No injuries -
16 Apr 1996 Bell 206B III
N2750F
San Diego, California, United States - No injuries -

All 1,732 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
27 Mar 1996 Boeing 727-225
N468FE
Memphis, Tennessee, United States - No injuries -
16 Apr 1996 Aeronca 7BCM
N2908E
Portland, Tennessee, United States - Minor injuries -
14 Jun 1996 Cessna 172N
N73941
Arlington, Tennessee, United States Memphis East Aviation Fatal 1
6 Jan 1996 Cessna 210H
N44DJ
Columbia, Tennessee, United States - Fatal 1
1 Feb 1996 Douglas DC-9-32
N903VJ
Nashville, Tennessee, United States - No injuries -
8 Jul 1996 Boeing 737-200
N53SW
Nashville, Tennessee, United States - Serious injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States