# Accident 19980912039269A: Bell 206B, Hinkley, MN, September 12, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 12, 1998, 16:55 local time
- Place: Hinkley, MN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.9690° N, 94.3601° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9690&lon=-94.3601&mi=10
- Aircraft: N52BH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N52BH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206B (registry code 1181511, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C20 series (registry code 03020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,500 total, 135 in this make and model, 75 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98TA354](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98TA354) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980912039269A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON SEPTEMBER 12, 1998, AT 1655 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME (CDT), A BELL 206B-3, N52BH, PILOTED BY AN AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING APPROACH FOLLOWING A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER AND ROTOR RPM SHORTLY AFTER INITIATING A CLIMB FOLLOWING A WATER PICKUP OVER A LAKE. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE 14 CFR PART 91 FIRE FIGHTING FLIGHT WAS NOT OPERATING ON A FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT REPORTED NO INJURIES. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED A LAKE NEAR HINKLEY , MINNESOTA, AT 1655 CDT. (-23) WHILE PERFORMING FIRE FIGHTING FOR THE MN DNR AND FORESTY DEPARTMENT, THE PILOT HAD JUST FILLED THE BUCKET AND STARTED TO CLIMB. AS THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO ENTER TRANSITIONAL LIFT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER.  PILOT DUMPED WATER WHICH HELPED TO BRING THE ROTOR UP SOME.  PILOT WAS ABLE TO GET THE HELICOPTER TO SHORE.  ON SHORE THE HELICOPTER AUTO ROTATED AND STRUCK A METAL TREE STAKE DAMAGING TAIL ROTOR, THE DRIVE SHAFT EXITED THE COWLING.  NO INJURIES.

## 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 CHI98TA354](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98TA354), Sep 12, 1998: Bell 206B-3 (N52BH), Hinkley, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: Loss of engine power due to failure of the engine governor.

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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