# Accident 19990706043389A: Bell 206L3, Wood Bridge, NJ, July 6, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 6, 1999, 16:45 local time
- Place: Wood Bridge, NJ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Power On Descent (Rotorcraft)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.5531° N, 74.2870° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Woodbridge, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5531&lon=-74.2870&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4NJ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4NJ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell OH-58A (registry code 1181579, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-oh-58a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L3
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C30P
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,250 total, 500 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC99FA169](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99FA169) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990706043389A

## Narrative

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

(.4)THE PILOT TOOK OFF INTO THE WIND TO CONDUCT A HIGH ORBIT, AND AS THE PILOT 'GENTLY AND SMOOTHLY' STARTED A RIGHT TURN, AN UNCOMMANDED RIGHT YAW, ALONG WITH A 'HIGH ENGINE WHINE SOUND,' WAS EXPERIENCED. AT THAT TIME THE PILOT ESTIMATED THE WIND WAS AT HIS 10 O'CLOCK POSITION.  THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY APPLIED LEFT PEDAL TO COMPENSATE FOR THE RIGHT YAW, BUT IT DID NOT ARREST THE ROTATION.  THE COLLECTIVE WAS THEN LOWERED, AND IN AN ATTEMPT TO FLY OUT OF THE ENSUING CONDITION, THE HELICOPTER WAS TURNED INTO THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION.  AFTER THE HELICOPTER MADE THREE COMPLETE 360-DEGREE TURNS TO THE RIGHT, THE PIC CLOSED THE THROTTLE TO IDLE, AND PERFORMED AN AUTOROTATION TO A DRY LAKEBED. FAA ADVISORY CIRCULAR 90-95 STATED THAT 'ANY MANEUVER WHICH REQUIRES THE PILOT TO OPERATE IN A HIGH-POWER, LOW AIRSPEED ENVIRONMENT WITH A LEFT CROSSWIND OR TAILWIND CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE UNANTICIPATED RIGHT YAW MAY OCCUR.'  THE AC ALSO ADVISED OF GREATER SUSCEPTIBILITY FOR LTE IN RIGHT TURNS AND THE PHENOMENA MAY OCCUR IN VARYING DEGREES IN ALL SINGLE MAIN ROTOR HELICOPTERS AT AIRSPEEDS LESS THAN 30 KNOTS.           (-23)N.J. STATE POLICE HELICOPTER WAS INVOLVED IN SEARCH FOR ESCAPED PRISON ER, WHEN IT EXPERIENCED LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR AUTHORITY AND IMPACTED WITH GROUND.

## 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 NYC99FA169](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99FA169), Jul 6, 1999: Bell 206L-3 (N4NJ), Woodbridge, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper takeoff procedure, which resulted in a loss of tailrotor effectiveness.

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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