Bell 206B N97AZ
25 June 2004 · Mesa, Arizona, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 25 June 2004 at about 04:10 local time, a Bell 206B registered N97AZ, operated by Ned K. Buher, was involved in an accident near Mesa, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and one died. 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 04:10
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Mesa, Arizona, United States
- Nearest airport
- Falcon Field Airport (FFZ)
- Coordinates
- 33.4608, -111.7283
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B
- Registration
- N97AZ
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Ned K. Buher
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Mesa → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- LAX04LA249
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to adequately clear the left skid of obstacles resulting in a dynamic rollover of the helicopter and collision with terrain. A factor in the accident was the dark nighttime lighting conditions.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The helicopter experienced a dynamic rollover and impacted terrain during an attempted takeoff from a parked trailer. A pilot acquaintance of the pilot described the trailer as a modified boat trailer, with an open and trough-shaped platform surrounded by "D" shaped tie down rings, which the acquaintance did not think was suitable for safe takeoff and landing operations. Earlier in the day, the pilot made several unsuccessful attempts to land the helicopter on the recently purchased trailer, and opted to land on the runway surface next to the trailer. After obtaining fuel, the pilot decided to make an additional attempt to land on the trailer in the dark night conditions. Witnesses saw the helicopter land on the trailer. Shortly after touchdown, the pilot attempted to depart the trailer platform and as the helicopter lifted off, the left skid caught on one of the numerous "D" shaped rings affixed to the platform surface of the trailer. The helicopter experienced a dynamic rollover and collided with the ground.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell 206 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Jun 2004 | Bell 206B | Cushing, Oklahoma, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 24 Jun 2004 | Bell 206-L1 | Vermillion Bay, Louisiana, United States | American Helicopters, Inc. | Fatal | 3 |
| 16 Aug 2004 | Bell 206B | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 26 Jan 2004 | Bell 206B | Turner, Oregon, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 May 2004 | Bell 206L-3 | Palmdale, California, United States | Orbic Helicopters | Minor injuries | - |
| 28 Jan 2004 | Bell 206-L4 | Patterson, Louisiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
All 1,732 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Dec 2004 | Cessna 150J | Amado, Arizona, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 13 May 2004 | Piper PA-28-161 | Tucson, Arizona, United States | IATA Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 8 Dec 2004 | Cessna T310R | Flagstaff, Arizona, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 14 May 2004 | Cessna 180 | Kingman, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 May 2004 | Cessna T182T | Paulden, Arizona, United States | Timothy J. Coury | No injuries | - |
| 16 May 2004 | Bachman LANCAIR IV-P | Supai, Arizona, United States | - | Fatal | 4 |