Bell 206L1 N103AE

Summary

On 29 November 2003 at about 04:08 local time, a Bell 206L1 registered N103AE was involved in an accident near Paris, Arkansas, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 November 2003 at 04:08

Classification

Accident

Location

Paris, Arkansas, United States

Coordinates

35.2989, -93.6817

Aircraft

Bell 206L1

Registration

N103AE

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Paris → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW04CA030

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to remove the main rotor tiedown prior to engine startup. Contributing factors were the pressure induced by conditions/events, improper preflight of the aircraft, and dark night conditions,

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The medical evacuation helicopter was responding to a request for an air ambulance medical transfer. The operator reported that the aircraft experienced a blade separation from the aircraft during startup. The 10,650-hour pilot reported that he started the aircraft with the main rotor still tied down. Recognition of this error came too late in the start sequence, and one of the main rotor blades broke and separated from the aircraft. The preflight was "rushed" due to pressure induced by the air ambulance mission.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.