Bell 206 N85TC

Summary

On 12 August 2007 at about 18:09 local time, a Bell 206 registered N85TC, operated by Evergreen Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Houma, Louisiana, 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

12 August 2007 at 18:09

Classification

Accident

Location

Houma, Louisiana, United States

Coordinates

29.5780, -90.7121

Aircraft

Bell 206

Registration

N85TC

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Evergreen Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

SS99A → SS110

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW07CA185

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to properly secure all loose items prior to takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The single-engine helicopter was conducting a round-robin flight between two offshore oil platforms. On the return flight, the pilot heard an unusual noise followed by "pronounced roughness in the tail rotor system." After a few seconds the roughness decreased and the pilot determined that the tail rotor was still functional. After landing, the pilot performed a post-flight inspection of the helicopter and discovered a metal wire wrapped around both sides of the tail rotor. Post accident examination revealed structural damage to the tail rotor blades, the tail boom, and the lower portion of the vertical fin assembly, including the tail skid. According to the pilot's statement a 3-foot-by-4- foot sunshade used to protect the cockpit windows, departed the helicopter during the flight. The pilot reported that he had failed to properly secure the sunshade prior to takeoff, which inadvertently exited an open window and became entangled in the tail rotor system. The 11,944-hour airline transport rated pilot reported having accumulated 375-hours in the same make and model helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.