19961102034779A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Bell 206L3 · Mancos, CO · November 2, 1996

Date: November 2, 1996 · 09:30 local
Place: Mancos, CO
Phase of flight: Hovering
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N937R
NTSB investigation: NTSBFTW97LA034
Reported as: Bell 206L3
Reported engine: Allison 250C30P
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 6,834 total5,077 in this make and model89 in the last 90 days

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.

Helicopter experienced a tail strike while hovering. (.4)the pilot said the helicopter was facing west on a 15 feet x 30 feet landing area. The wind was from the south at about 5 to 10 knots. The pilot lifted the helicopter to a 5 foot hover, then made a left pedal turn to face into the wind. He then heard a loud noise and felt a vibration through the pedals. The pilot made a 'hovering autorotation,' landed, and shut down the engine. Inspection disclosed the tail rotor had struck a nearby windsock.

As the FAA filed it

HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A TAIL STRIKE WHILE HOVERING. (.4)THE PILOT SAID THE HELICOPTER WAS FACING WEST ON A 15 FEET X 30 FEET LANDING AREA. THE WIND WAS FROM THE SOUTH AT ABOUT 5 TO 10 KNOTS. THE PILOT LIFTED THE HELICOPTER TO A 5 FOOT HOVER, THEN MADE A LEFT PEDAL TURN TO FACE INTO THE WIND. HE THEN HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND FELT A VIBRATION THROUGH THE PEDALS. THE PILOT MADE A 'HOVERING AUTOROTATION,' LANDED, AND SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. INSPECTION DISCLOSED THE TAIL ROTOR HAD STRUCK A NEARBY WINDSOCK.

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 FTW97LA034Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMancos, COfailure of the pilot to maintain clearance from the windsock, during a hover/pedal-turn after lift-off.Nov 2, 1996 · Substantial damage