# Accident 20020511009769A: Bell 206B, Rosenberg, TX, May 11, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 11, 2002, 19:20 local time
- Place: Rosenberg, TX
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.5244° N, 95.7753° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5244&lon=-95.7753&mi=10
- Aircraft: N717NH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N717NH-2007-03-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206B (registry code 1181511, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C20 series (registry code 03020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW02LA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA143) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020511009769A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON MAY 11, 2002, APPROXIMATELY 1920 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A BELL 206B, SINGLE-ENGINE HELICOPTER, N717NH, IMPACTED THE TERRAIN DURING AN AUTOROTATION FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER NEAR ROSENBERG, TEXAS. THE HELICOPTER WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY JET AIR, INC., OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, UNDER 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91. THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES, AND ONE PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE PLANNED CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE FLIGHT WAS ORIGINATING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT, FOLLOWING THE DEPARTURE FROM A NEARBY RESIDENCE, THE HELICOPTER WAS APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET AGL WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. DURING THE AURTOROTATION, THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND, THE SKIDS SEPARATED FROM THE HELICOPTER, AND THE HELICOPTER SLID TO A STOP. THE FAA INSPECTOR, WHO RESPONDED TO THE SITE, FOUND SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE THROUGHOUT THE HELICOPTER. AT 1953, THE SUGARLAND WEATHER FACILITY (LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 17 NAUTICAL MILES EAST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE) REPORTED THE WIND FROM 150 DEGREES AT 13 KNOTS, AND SCATTERED CLOUDS AT 5,00 FEET. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 27 DEGREES CELSIUS (81 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT) AND THE DEW POINT 22 DEGREES CELSIUS (72 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT). THE ALTIMETER SETTING WAS 29.98 INCHES OF MERCURY. THE FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THE WIND WAS FROM THE SOUTHEAST AT 15 GUSTING TO 25 KNOTS. (-23) DEPARTED TO THE SOUTH FROM ELEVATED AREA LOCATED BETWEEN TWO BUILDINGS WITH 5 PEOPLE ON BOARD, 1 PILOT AND 4 PASSENGERS. AFTER DEPARTURE GAINED ABOUT 300 FEET OF ALTITUDE BEFORE ENTERING A STEEP LEFT TURN. (WITNESSES INDICATED MR. HUBBARD, OWNER, ALWAYS DID A FLY BY ON HIS DEPARTURE AFTER LEAVING A COMPANY FUNCTION). AFTER ENTERING LEFT TURN WITNESSES INDICATED THE ENGINE GOT VERY QUIET. AFTER THE ENGINE QUIT AIRCRAFT CONTINUED IN LEFT TURN AND IMPACTED THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 300 YARDS FROM THE TAKE-OFF POINT. TERRAIN WAS SLOPING DOWN HILL TO THE SOUTH FROM THE TAKEOFF POINT.

## 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 FTW02LA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA143), May 12, 2002: Bell 206B (N717NH), Rosenberg, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance.

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.