# Accident 20010423007819A: Bell 206L3, Wilcox, AZ, April 23, 2001 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: April 23, 2001, 14:30 local time - Place: Wilcox, AZ - Damage: No damage - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Operator: IBUA - Location: 32.2500° N, 110.1000° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2500&lon=-110.1000&mi=10 - Aircraft: N215M, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N215M-2003-07-10) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Bell 206L-3 (registry code 1182108, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l-3) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Allison 250-C30 series (registry code 03015, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c30-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206L3 - NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX01LA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA157) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010423007819A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19)ON APRIL 23, 2001, AT 1430 HOURS MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, A BELL BHT-206-L3, N215M, LOST ENGINE POWER AND MADE A FORCED AUTOROTATIVE LANDING IN DESERT TERRAIN EAST OF WILLCOX, ARIZONA. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE; HOWEVER, NEITHER THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT NOR HIS TWO CREWMEMBERS WERE INJURED. CRITICAL AIR MEDICINE, INC., WAS OPERATING THE HELICOPTER AS A NON-REVENUE BUSINESS FLIGHT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91 WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE FLIGHT HAD ORIGINATED FROM TUCSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, TUCSON, ARIZONA, ABOUT 1400, AND WAS SCHEDULED TO TERMINATE AT THE NORTHERN COCHISE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL IN WILLCOX. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND A COMPANY VFR FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE HELICOPTER WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT ABOUT 500 FEET AGL AND ABOUT 20 MILES WEST OF WILLCOX, WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT COMPLETELY. THE PILOT TURNED TO ENTER AN AUTOROTATION GLIDE INTO THE WINDS; HOWEVER, THE APPROACH WAS SHORT OF THE INTENDED POINT OF LANDING, THE TAIL BOOM STRUCK A MESQUITE TREE, AND THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD. A POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE SKIDS WERE SPREAD, THE WINDSCREEN WAS BROKEN, AND THE TAIL BOOM WAS SEVERED. BOTH MAIN ROTOR BLADES SHOWED EVIDENCE OF STRUCTURAL SEPARATION THAT BEGAN ABOUT 3 FEET FROM THE BLADE GRIPS AND EXTENDED OUTBOARD TO THE BLADE TIPS. WEATHER IN TUCSON WAS REPORTED AS CLEAR WITH A SURFACE TEMPERATURE OF 91 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THE TURBINE-POWERED HELICOPTER WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN ENGINE AUTO RELIGHT SYSTEM. (-23)PILOT REPORTED FAILURE WHILE MAKING A TURN TO OBSERVE WILDLIFE ENROUTE TO WILCOX AZ. AFTER DELIVERING PATIENT TO TUCSON MEDICAL CENTER TUCSON AZ. PILOT CLAIMED HE BEGAN AUTOROTATION AND STRUCK A TREE WITH THE TAIL ROTOR CAUSING THE ROTOR TO STRIKE THE TAIL BOOM SEVERING THE BOOM IN THREE PLACES AND CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE DRIVE SYSTEM AND THE SKIDS. THE EVIDENCE AT THE SCENE DOES NOT SUPPORT THIS STORY. THE TAILROTOR ACTUALLY STRUCK THE GROUND 17 FEET FROM THE TREE CAUSING THE TAILBOOM TO FAIL ALLOWING THE ROTOR TO STRIKE THE TAIL ROTOR, THE HELICOPTER THEN BOUNCED INTO THE TREE. IT APPREARS THAT THE ENGINE WAS MAKING POWER WHEN THE ROTOR STRUCK THE TAILBOOM DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME. ## 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 LAX01LA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA157), Apr 23, 2001: Bell 206-L3 (N215M), Willcox, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to the likely unporting of the fuel tank pickups as the helicopter was maneuvered to look at animals on the ground. Also causal was the pilot's misjudged touchdown point… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.