Bell 206B N9913K

Summary

On 13 August 1996 at about 16:40 local time, a Bell 206B registered N9913K was involved in an accident near Starks, Maine, United States. 3 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.

Date

13 August 1996 at 16:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Starks, Maine, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bell 206B

Registration

N9913K

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rangeley → Pittsfield

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC96LA167

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's improper decision to operate at slow airspeed, and close to the critical relative wind azimuth area in gusty, variable winds, which resulted in an inadvertent loss of tail rotor effectiveness. The gusty crosswind and lack of a suitable terrain for a landing were related factors.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting a powerline patrol, and at the request of the observer(s), he maneuvered the helicopter so they could take another look at a tower. According to the pilot, he was flying west, and the wind was from the west to northwest at 10 knots with gusts from 15 to 20 knots. He inadvertently slowed to 20 knots. As the pilot applied power and left pedal, the helicopter started a right rotation. He was unable to recover directional control, and was forced to autorotate into unsuitable terrain. The tail rotor struck a tree during descent. During the landing, the skids were driven into the fuselage. According to a chart in the flight manual, the critical wind azimuth area was from 050 degrees to 210 degrees.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.