19950828048429A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Bell 206B3 · Monterey, CA · August 28, 1995

Date: August 28, 1995 · 13:41 local
Place: Monterey, CA
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N206MT
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX95LA310
Reported as: Bell 206B3
Fatal injuries: 0

N206MTRegistration cancelled Jun 20, 2005 · Bell 206BS/N 2276 · Built 1977 Airframe modelBell 206B Engine modelAllison 250 SER 250HPTurbo-shaft

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.

(-16) The operator was working with the Monterey county sheriff's department, looking for marijuana growers in the los padres national forest. During the operation at a hover with a 50 feet longline in a canyon with brush and oak trees. The tail rotor struck a tree causing a tail rotor failure. The helicopter spun two to three times prior to entering the oak trees and brush and impacting on the left side on a steep slope and sliding down a 30 foot hill.

As the FAA filed it

(-16) THE OPERATOR WAS WORKING WITH THE MONTEREY COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, LOOKING FOR MARIJUANA GROWERS IN THE LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST. DURING THE OPERATION AT A HOVER WITH A 50 FEET LONGLINE IN A CANYON WITH BRUSH AND OAK TREES. THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A TREE CAUSING A TAIL ROTOR FAILURE. THE HELICOPTER SPUN TWO TO THREE TIMES PRIOR TO ENTERING THE OAK TREES AND BRUSH AND IMPACTING ON THE LEFT SIDE ON A STEEP SLOPE AND SLIDING DOWN A 30 FOOT HILL.

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 LAX95LA310Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCarmel Valley, CAthe pilot's failure to maintain an adequate clearance from obstructions while hovering.Aug 28, 1995 · Substantial damage