# Accident 20010122038239A: Bell 206L1, Quincy, IL, January 22, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 22, 2001, 00:05 local time
- Place: Quincy, IL
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: EVCA
- Location: 39.9306° N, 91.3793° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9306&lon=-91.3793&mi=10
- Aircraft: N61AE, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61AE-2018-07-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 (registry code 1182107, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C30P (registry code 54013, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c30p) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI01LA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA070) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010122038239A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON 01/22/01, AT APPROXIMATELY 0605 UTC, N61AE, A BHT-206-L1, WAS PREPARING FOR A DEPARTURE FROM BLESSING HOSPITAL, QUINCY, EL FOR THE PURPOSE OF RETRIEVING AN AMBULATORY PATIENT IN CANTON, MO. THE AIRCRAFT WAS PULLED FROM THE HANGAR FACILITY ADJACENT TO THE HOSPITAL AND PLACED ON THE HELIPAD. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TENDED BY THE PILOT, A PARAMEDIC, A FLIGHT NURSE, AND A SECURITY GUARD THAT WAS EMPLOYED BY THE HOSPITAL. THE PILOT AND FLIGHT NURSE BOARDED THE AIRCRAFT IN ANTICIPATION OF THE ENGINE START AND SUBSEQUENT DEPARTURE. THE PARAMEDIC POSITIONED HIMSELF AT THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT TO CONNECT THE POWER CART FOR THE START SEQUENCE. THE SECURITY GUARD ACCOMPANIED, AND WAS STANDING NEXT TO, THE PARAMEDIC. THE ENGINE START WAS INITIATED AND ROTORS WERE TURNING WHEN THE PILOT INDICATED, THROUGH THE USE OF HAND SIGNALS TO THE PARAMEDIC, TO DISCONNECT THE POWER CART FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE PARAMEDIC DISCONNECTED THE POWER CART AND DRAPED THE PLUG OVER THE CART SITUATED BEHIND HIM. HE THEN LEANED DOWN TO SECURE THE PANEL AT THE AIRCRAFT CONNECTION POINT. AS HE STOOD, HE HEARD A THUMP AND TURNED TO FIND THAT THE POWER CART AND THE SECURITY GUARD WERE NO LONGER PRESENT. UPON NOTING A FIGURE LYING UNDER AND NEAR THE TAIL ASSEMBLY, HE MOTIONED FOR THE PILOT TO "CUT" THE ENGINE. THE PARAMEDIC THEN PROCEEDED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM TO OBTAIN MEDICAL PERSONNEL. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SECURITY GUARD HAD PULLED THE POWER CART TOWARD THE HANGAR AFTER THE DISCONNECT FROM THE AIRCRAFT, AND SUBSEQUENTLY CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBLY BY WHICH HE SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE SECURITY GUARD EXPIRED LATER ON THIS DATE.

## 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 CHI01LA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA070), Jan 22, 2001: Bell 206L-1 (N61AE), Quincy, IL, minor damage. Probable cause: The security guard failed to maintain clearance with the operating tail rotor.

## Other reports on N61AE (2)

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

- [Incident 20110928023819I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110928023819I), Sep 28, 2011: Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 (N61AE), St. Clair, MO, No damage. At 18:39 CST on September 28th, 2011, during reposition of aircraft N61AE, at the St. Clair, MO, airport, while at about a three-foot-hover, the pilot…
- [Incident 20010308005059I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010308005059I), Mar 8, 2001: Bell 206L1 (N61AE), St Louis, MO, Minor damage. (-23) While on final approach to an approved hospital helipad, pilot encountered a flock of ducks at approx. 500 ft. above ground level. A single duck entered…

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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