# Accident 19970717018729A: Bell 206L1, Amelia, LA, July 17, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 17, 1997, 06:30 local time
- Place: Amelia, LA
- Airport: Lake Palourde Base Heliport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.6690° N, 91.1109° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6690&lon=-91.1109&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3892R, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3892R-1999-04-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 (registry code 1182107, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW97LA270](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA270) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970717018729A

## Narrative

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

HELICOPTER LOST POWER AFTER TAKEOFF, EXECUTED AN AUTO ROTATION. LANDED HARD AND ROLLED OVER ON ITS SIDE. (-23) THE PILOT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, AT APPROXIMATELY 60-FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, A LOUD BANG OCCURRED. THE AIRCRAFT YAWED TO THE LEFT AND THE ROTOR SPEED BEGAN TO DECAY. THE PILOT INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION AND MADE A HARD RIGHT TURN TO LAND IN A SUITABLE AREA. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD ON THE RIGHT SKID AND CAME TO REST ON THE RIGHT SIDE. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND ITS SYSTEMS DID NOT REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS. THE ENGINE DID SHOW EVIDENCE OF INGESTION OF A FOREIGN MATTER. THE ENGINE BLEED AIR SCROLL WAS STAINED WITH WHAT IS ASSUMED TO BE REMNANTS OF A GROUND FROG. IT IS BELIEVED THAT A GROUND FROG WAS INGESTED INTO THE ENGINE COMPRESSOR AND CAUSED A MOMENTARY STALL. DUE TO THE LOW ALTITUDE, THE PILOT ASSUMED IT WAS A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE AND EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING. THE OPERATOR OF THE AIRCRAFT HAS EXPERIENCED OTHER INCIDENTS WHICH IT ATTRIBUTES TO INGESTION OF A FROG INTO THE ENGINE. SINCE THIS LATEST OCCURRENCE, THE OPERATOR HAS ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES TO COVER THE ENGINE INTAKE AREA                                             WHEN THE AIRCRAFT ARE PARKED OVERNIGHT AT THIS LOCATION. THE OPERATOR HAS ALSO CONSULTED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONALS TO ATTEMPT TO FURTHER ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM.

## 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 FTW97LA270](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA270), Jul 17, 1997: Bell 206L-1 (N3892R), Amelia, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: partial loss of engine power due to frog(s) being ingested into the engine. Factors relating to the accident were: the lack of altitude and lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.

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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