# Accident 19961102034779A: Bell 206L3, Mancos, CO, November 2, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 2, 1996, 09:30 local time
- Place: Mancos, CO
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.3391° N, 108.2897° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3391&lon=-108.2897&mi=10
- Aircraft: N937R (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L3
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C30P
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 6,834 total, 5,077 in this make and model, 89 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW97LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA034) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961102034779A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW97LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA034), Nov 2, 1996: Bell 206L-3 (N937R), Mancos, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure of the pilot to maintain clearance from the windsock, during a hover/pedal-turn after lift-off.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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