20000429005689A

Accident · No damage

FAA accident report · Bell 206L-3 · April 29, 2000

Date: April 29, 2000 · 18:05 local
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: AC2A
Damage: No damage
Aircraft: N17237
NTSB investigation: NTSBFTW00LA137
Reported as: Bell 206L3

N17237Registration cancelled Feb 21, 2018 · Bell 206L-3S/N 51478 · Built 1991 Airframe modelBell 206L-3 Engine modelAllison 250-C30 seriesTurbo-shaft

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) While turning final to south marsh island 61C at 500 AGL, pilot noticed he had full tail rotor pedal travel with no tail rotor response. The pilot terminated his approach and notified the company dispatcher of his emergency. Due to insufficient fuel to reach land, the pilot initiated an emergency landing near a supply boat. During the autorotation the pilot was unable to maintain positive control of the aircraft and struck the water causing substantial damage to the aircraft.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) WHILE TURNING FINAL TO SOUTH MARSH ISLAND 61C AT 500 AGL, PILOT NOTICED HE HAD FULL TAIL ROTOR PEDAL TRAVEL WITH NO TAIL ROTOR RESPONSE. THE PILOT TERMINATED HIS APPROACH AND NOTIFIED THE COMPANY DISPATCHER OF HIS EMERGENCY. DUE TO INSUFFICIENT FUEL TO REACH LAND, THE PILOT INITIATED AN EMERGENCY LANDING NEAR A SUPPLY BOAT. DURING THE AUTOROTATION THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN POSITIVE CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND STRUCK THE WATER CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB FTW00LA137Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSalt MarshThe company mechanic's failure to replace the bolt's cotter key properly and the subsequent loss of the nut, which then resulted in the tail rotor control disconnection and the pilot's inability to maintain aircraft control.Apr 29, 2000 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N17237 · 1

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

Incident 20011011032069IHovering · TN(-23) During landing at MP299DA, the pilot positioned the aircraft so he could view disembarking passengers leaving the helideck. The pilot then brought the aircraft to a hover and the tail rotor struck a pressure washer which was positioned too close to the…Oct 11, 2001 · Minor damage