# Accident 20010712018899A: Bell 206B, Sanfrancisco, CA, July 12, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 12, 2001, 13:30 local time
- Place: Sanfrancisco, CA
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.6104° N, 122.3807° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6104&lon=-122.3807&mi=10
- Aircraft: N474SF, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N474SF-2004-04-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206B (registry code 1181511, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 SER 400HP (registry code 03013, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX01LA243](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA243) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010712018899A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON JULY 12, 2001, AT 1330 HOURS PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A BELL 206B, N474SF, LOST ENGINE POWER AND MADE A HARD LANDING FROM AN AUTOROTATION IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE; HOWEVER, NEITHER THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT NOR HIS THREE PASSENGERS WER INJURED.  SAN FRANCISCO HELICOPTER TOURS WAS OPERATING THE HELICOPTER AS A FOR-HIRE SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91 WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.  THE LOCAL FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AT 1317.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND A COMPANY VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS INBOUND TO THE AIRPORT WHEN HE SAW AN "ENGINE" CHIP LIGHT ILLUMINATE, AND HEARD A WHINING SOUND.  HE WAS LOOKING FOR A SUITABLE LANDING AREA WHEN HE SAW THE "ENGINE OUT" LIGHT ILLUMINATE.  HE THEN FOUND HIMSELF OVER A LARGE, FLAT, OPEN FIELD ABOUT 600 FEET MSL, AND BETWEEN 110 TO 120 MPH.  HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE TO ENTER AN AUTOROTATION AND APPLIED AFT CYCLIC TO SLOW HIS FORWARD AIRSPEED.  AS HE NEARED THE BOTTOM OF THE MANEUVER, HE PULLED COLLECTIVE PITCH TO CUSHION THE LANDING; HOWEVER, THE HELICOPTER ABRUPTLY  SPUN 90 DEGREES TO THE LEFT. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM AND THE GROUND.  THE TAIL BOOM WAS SEPARATED FROM THE HELICOPTER.  ALL THE OCCUPANTS WERE UNINJURED AND WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE HELICOPTER WITHOUT ASSISTANCE.                                                                       (-23) AT APPROXIMATELY 1340 HOURS PDT ON JULY 12, 2001, N474SF, A BELL 206BH, EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE, ABOUT 40 SECONDS AFTER A CHIP LIGHT ILLUMINATED.  THE PILOT AUTOROTATED TO AN OPEN FIELD RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING.  DURING THE HARD LANDING THE TAIL BOOM WAS CUT OFF BY THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES.  NEITHER THE PILOT NOR HIS THREE PASSENGERS WERE INJURED.  ENGINE WILL BE SENT TO A REPAIR STATION FOR INSPECTION.

## 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 LAX01LA243](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA243), Jul 12, 2001: Bell 206B (N474SF), San Francisco, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the accessory gearbox 2 1/2 bearing in fatigue resulting in the complete loss of engine power and a subsequent forced landing. The pilot's failure to maintain directional control…

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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