# Accident 20010828024609A: Bell 206L4, Mesa, AZ, August 28, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 28, 2001, 10:30 local time
- Place: Mesa, AZ
- Airport: Falcon Field Airport
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.5103° N, 111.5804° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5103&lon=-111.5804&mi=10
- Aircraft: N995PM, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N995PM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206-L4 (registry code 1182110, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206-l4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C30 series (registry code 03015, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c30-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L4
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX01LA292](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA292) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010828024609A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE FUEL CONTROL WAS REPLACED @ SDL (MAIN BASE OR OPER) AND A MAINT. TEST FLT. TO THE FFZ AIRPORT. AREA WAS THEN CONDUCTED. THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING POWER-RECOVERY AUTOROTATIONS. HE ENTERED THE "FLARE" MANEUVER AT 60 MPH AND AT APPROX. 75-100 FT.(AGL). THE HELICOPTER "FELL-THRU" THE AUTOROTATION AND CONTACTED THE GROUND (FIRST) HARD ON THE REAR OF THE SKIDS, THEN THE HELICOPTER PITCHED FORWARD RAPIDLY CONTACTING THE NOSE OF THE A/C AND COMING TO REST UPRIGHT. THE TAILBOOM SEPARATED AT THE UPPER ATTACHING AREA OF THE AFT FUSELAGE BULKHEAD, TEARING THE THOMAS-COUPLING COMPLETELY ON THE DRIVE SHAFT, AND CAUSING THE VERTICAL FW TO BE SEPARATED FROM THE TAILBOOM. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES DO NOT APPEAR TO HAVE CONTACTED THE TAILBOOM. NO INJURIES-NO POST CRASH FIRE.

## 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 LAX01LA292](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA292), Aug 28, 2001: Bell 206-L4 (N995PM), Mesa, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper autorotation in that he failed to attain the proper descent rate resulting in a hard landing and subsequent airframe damage. A factor was the high temperature.

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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