Bell 206 N206HE

Summary

On 21 December 2001 at about 22:25 local time, a Bell 206 registered N206HE, operated by U.S. Forest Service, was involved in an accident near Awendaw, South Carolina, 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

21 December 2001 at 22:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Awendaw, South Carolina, United States

Coordinates

33.3333, -79.9833

Aircraft

Bell 206

Registration

N206HE

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

U.S. Forest Service

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mt Pleasant → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL02TA021

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the bambi bucket suspension assembly during dip operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the operator, the pilot had completed about 40 water-dips for the day, and about 7 water-dips from the accident pond. When the pilot attempted the climb out from the pond, with the 600-pound external load, the helicopter rolled right and collided with the water. The airframe examination revealed that the right skid was broken forward of the landing gear cross tub. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the helicopter during the attempted takeoff. The pilot reported that he believe the bucket cable did not cross over the right skid toe.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.