# Accident 19980524047139A: Bell 206L3, Springdale, AR, May 24, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 24, 1998, 12:35 local time
- Place: Springdale, AR
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: EVCA
- Location: 36.1799° N, 94.1402° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1799&lon=-94.1402&mi=10
- Aircraft: N27AE, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N27AE-1998-09-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206L-3 (registry code 1182108, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l-3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L3
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98FA239](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98FA239) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980524047139A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ACCORDING TO WITNESSES THE HELICOPTER MADE A NORMAL LIFTOFF AND BEGAN TO CLIMB TO THE SOUTHWEST. WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING A LOUD WHINE FOLLOWED BY SEVERAL "POPPING" SOUNDS, THEN BLACK SMOKE/EXHAUST BEING EJECTED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE AIRCRAFT THEN BEGAN A RAPID DESCENT FROM AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 60-70 FEET UNTIL IT IMPACTED A PARKING LOT AND ROLLED OVER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE.

## 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 FTW98FA239](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98FA239), May 24, 1998: Bell 206L-3 (N27AE), Springdale, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of maintenance personnel to properly assemble the engine's accessory gearbox, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to partial blockage of the main oil passage by an o-ring.…

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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