# Accident 19980106000159A: Bell 206B, Savannah, GA, January 6, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 6, 1998, 20:34 local time
- Place: Savannah, GA
- Airport: Savannah International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.0993° N, 81.2494° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0993&lon=-81.2494&mi=10
- Aircraft: N333FC, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N333FC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206B (registry code 1181511, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20 (registry code 54178, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 5,000 total, 2,500 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA98LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA053) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980106000159A

## Narrative

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

(.4)THE NONINSTRUMENT-RATED PILOT STATED HE RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING VIA COMPUTER PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. WHILE APPROACHING HIS DESTINATION HE WAS TOLD THE AIRPORT WAS UNDER INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES CONDITIONS. HE REQUESTED AND RECEIVED A SPECIAL VISUAL FLIGHT RULES CLEARANCE TO APPROACH THE AIRPORT. WHILE MANEUVERING TO LINE UP WITH THE AIRPORT THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH AN OAK TREE. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS THEN MADE IN A FIELD. THE PASSENGER STATED THAT HE DID NOT OBSERVE THE PILOT RESET THE ALTIMETER DURING THE ENTIRE FLIGHT AND THAT AT THE TIME THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH THE TREES THE ALTIMETER READ ABOUT 480 FEET. THE ELEVATION AT THE SAVANNAH AIRPORT IS 51 FEET. (-23)PILOT REQUESTED SVFR AND WAS GIVEN CLEARENCE.  REPORTED RY36 IN SIGHT (SAV) APPROX. 1 MILE FROM AIRPORT.  AIRCRAFT WAS CLEARED TO LAND BUT NEVER TALKED TO TOWER.  A SEARCH WAS CONDUCTED.  PILOT CALLED VIA TELEPHONE AND REPORTED LANDING IN FIELDS NEAR AIRPORT.  REPORTED NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT.  A CALL WAS RECEIVED A APPROX 1200Z AND A/C WAS REPORTED WITH HEAVY DAMAGE AND INJURIES.  WX AT 0144Z WAS 50 1 1/2 BROVE 19/19 A3003 RMK SFC                                                                      VSBY2.

## 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 MIA98LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA053), Jan 7, 1998: Bell 206B (N333FC), Pooler, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain a safe altitude and a visual lookout while operating under a special visual flight rules clearance in instrument flight rule conditions, which resulted in the…

## Other reports on N333FC (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19910708061249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910708061249A), Jul 8, 1991: Bell 206B (N333FC), Vero Beach, FL, Substantial damage. Reported forced landing due mechanical and passenger hit cyclic exiting. Mechanic reported damaged by hard 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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