Bell 206B N49746

Summary

On 2 October 2014 at about 17:55 local time, a Bell 206B registered N49746, operated by North Texas Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Woodsboro, Texas, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 October 2014 at 17:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Woodsboro, Texas, United States

Coordinates

28.2367, -97.3192

Aircraft

Bell 206B

Registration

N49746

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1976

Engines

1

Operator

North Texas Helicopters, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sinton → Beeville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN15LA002

3 people were seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to recognize and correct for flight conditions conducive to a loss of tail rotor effectiveness, which resulted in a rapid, uncommanded right yaw and subsequent hard landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting an aerial pipeline observation flight when the helicopter suddenly yawed to the right and he received a low rotor rpm warning. The pilot applied left pedal to correct the yaw; however, the helicopter continued its right turn, impacted the ground, and rolled onto its side, resulting in substantial damage. Examination of the wreckage and testing of components did not reveal any preimapct anomalies that would have precluded normal helicopter operation. Nonvolatile memory obtained from the helicopter indicated that its groundspeed varied during the last 10 seconds of recorded data to a low of about 9 knots, increasing to about 25 knots, then decreasing to about 12 knots. During this time period, the helicopter's altitude decreased to about 50 feet above ground level (agl). The last recorded point showed the helicopter about 30 feet agl at a groundspeed of about 15 knots on a northwesterly heading. Weather observations from a nearby airport indicated variable wind from the south at 10 knots with gusts to 21 knots about the time of the accident. The helicopter's orientation to the prevailing wind and its slow airspeed made the helicopter susceptible to a loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE). Additionally, the helicopter's low altitude at the time of the LTE encounter was inadequate to allow for recovery before its impact with terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.