19860107000309A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Bell 206B · Port Oconnor, TX · January 7, 1986

Date: January 7, 1986 · 16:35 local
Place: Port Oconnor, TX
Airport: Era Heliport
Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Operator: ERAA
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N520EH
NTSB investigation: NTSBFTW86FA033
Reported as: Bell 206B
Reported engine: Allison 250C20B
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,136 total603 in this make and model204 in the last 90 days

N520EHRegistration cancelled Mar 1, 1990 · Bell 206BS/N 3020 Airframe modelBell 206B

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Pilot lost control of helicopter in hover. Struck N374EH before rolling over. Tail rotor drive shaft separated.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT LOST CONTROL OF HELICOPTER IN HOVER. STRUCK N374EH BEFORE ROLLING OVER. TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT SEPARATED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB FTW86FA033Accident · Minor injuriesField investigationFinal reportPort O'Connor, TXThe helicopter sustained a loss of tailrotor drive on lift off. A bonding in a shaft coupling failed. Extensive research and analysis discovered no discrepancies in design, production, quality assurance, maintenance or operating environment that could have…Jan 7, 1986 · Destroyed