Bell 206 N796M

Summary

On 24 February 2011 at about 20:45 local time, a Bell 206 registered N796M, operated by Lady Alice Corp, was involved in an accident near Ridgeland, South Carolina, United States. 2 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

24 February 2011 at 20:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Ridgeland, South Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Ridgeland Airport (3J1)

Coordinates

32.4936, -80.9919

Aircraft

Bell 206

Registration

N796M

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Lady Alice Corp

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Savannah → Ridgeland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA11CA162

Nobody was injured.

The certified flight instructor's delayed remedial action during a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the certified flight instructor (CFI), the student pilot was conducting a practice autorotation with a planned power recovery. The helicopter’s rotor rpm was maintained throughout the maneuver and the student pilot initiated the flare during the recovery stage. The student failed to increase the throttle and the CFI did not react in time to add engine power in order to recover. The CFI subsequently took authority of the flight controls and the helicopter landed hard. The main rotor contacted the tail boom, resulting in substantial damage to the tail boom, tail rotor drive shaft, and tail rotor control rod. The CFI stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.