Bell 206L-3 N103AE

Summary

On 9 June 2002 at about 05:27 local time, a Bell 206L-3 registered N103AE, operated by Air Evac EMS, Inc., was involved in an accident near Dover, Arkansas, 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

9 June 2002 at 05:27

Classification

Accident

Location

Dover, Arkansas, United States

Coordinates

35.5167, -93.1000

Aircraft

Bell 206L-3

Registration

N103AE

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Air Evac EMS, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Paris → Dover

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

FTW02LA176

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with trees during the approach. A contributing factor was dark night light conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter over flew the landing zone, and the pilot initiated an approach from the south. The pilot determined the helicopter was too high for the approach and initiated a go-around. On the second approach, while using the landing light, the pilot was leaning forward and scanning the area ahead when he "felt the aircraft shudder," and then realized the helicopter was in a high sink rate. The pilot applied power to arrest the descent. The helicopter had "just turned 90 degrees when it stabilized; however, not before striking a tree or trees." The pilot applied additional power to climb above the tree line. "Control response was normal except for excessive vibration in the foot pedals, resonating through the fuselage." Due to rough terrain, low illumination, and obstacles, the pilot elected to fly the helicopter to an airport south of the landing zone. The helicopter landed at the airport without further incident. Examination of the helicopter revealed that the tail rotor gearbox was partially separated from its mount, and both tail rotor blades were damaged.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.