# Accident 19980618014269A: Bell 206L4, Hurst, TX, June 18, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 18, 1998, 15:15 local time
- Place: Hurst, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.8296° N, 97.1696° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8296&lon=-97.1696&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8094L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8094L-2000-05-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206-L4 (registry code 1182110, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206-l4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L4
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C30P
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,470 total, 117 in this make and model, 116 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA274](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA274) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980618014269A

## Narrative

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

HELICOPTER LANDED HARD AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. (.4) THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER WHILE DEMONSTRATING THE TECHNIQUE FOR RECOVERING FROM A LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS WHILE HOVERING OVER A HELIPAD. AFTER ASSUMING THE CONTROLS FOR THE DEMONSTRATION, THE INSTRUCTOR NOTICED THAT THE RPM WAS SET TOO LOW, AT 99 PERCENT. THE INSTRUCTOR ELECTED TO `BEEP UP' THE RPM BY STABILIZING THE CYCLIC WITH HIS LEFT HAND AND `BEEPING' THE RPM WITH THE RIGHT THUMB. HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN BEEPING THE RPM UP ON 2 ATTEMPTS. ON HIS LAST ATTEMPT, WHILE MANIPULATING THE CYCLIC LEVER WITH HIS LEFT HAND AND THE RPM SWITCH WITH THE THUMB OF HIS RIGHT HAND, AND KEEPING HIS EYES ON THE ENGINE TACHOMETER, THE HELICOPTER ASSUMED A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE WHILE DRIFTING BACKWARDS. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS NOT ABLE TO RECOVER THE HELICOPTER IN TIME TO AVOID IMPACT WITH THE GROUND. THE WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENTS WERE REPORTED FROM THE SOUTH AT 27 KNOTS. (-23) ON JUNE 18, 1998, AT APPROXIMATELY 15:15 PM CDT, A BELL HELICOPTER 2206 L4, N8094L, OWNED BY BELL HELICOPTER, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A FAR PART 61 TRAINING FLIGHT.  DURING A DEMONSTRATION OF LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR  EFFECTIVENESS AT A HOVER, THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, ALLOWING THE HELICOPTER TO CRASH. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED, VISUAL CONDITIONS EXISTED, NO INJURIES OCCURRED. HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE FUSELAGE, LANDING GEAR, ROTOR SYSTEMS, AND ENGINE.  THE PILOT HOLDS A COMMERCIAL PILOT AND FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, ROTORCRAFT HELICOPTER CERTIFICATE.  THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT BELL HELICOPTER (2F2) HURST, TEXAS, ON JUNE 18, 1998, AT APPROXIMATELY 15:00 PM CDT.

## 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 FTW98LA274](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA274), Jun 18, 1998: Bell 206L4 (N8094L), Hurst, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's failure to maintain control of the helicopter while attempting to increase the engine RPM while hovering. Factors were the prevailing high winds and the instructor's diverted…

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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