# Accident 20020609014979A: Bell 206L1, Dover, AR, June 9, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 9, 2002, 00:27 local time
- Place: Dover, AR
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: VE7A
- Location: 35.5167° N, 93.1000° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5167&lon=-93.1000&mi=10
- Aircraft: N103AE, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N103AE) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 (registry code 1182107, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 SER 250HP (registry code 03002, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW02LA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA176) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020609014979A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE EMS'S HELICOPTER TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A TREE DURING AN APPROACH TO A LANDING SITE, APPROX 9 MILES NORTH OF DOVER AR. AS THE HELICOPTER NEARED THE LANDING ZONE, A LIGHT FROM A FLASHLIGHT IN THE VICINITY OF THE PROPOSED LANDING ZONE WAS ILLUMINATED. THE AIRCRAFT FLEW OVER THE LANDING ZONE AND STARTED AN APPROACH FROM THE SOUTH. THE PILOT DETERMINED THAT THE APPROACH WAS TOO HIGH FOR PROPER APPROACH AND INITIATED A GO-AROUND. ON THE SECOND APPROACH, WHILE USING THE LANDING LIGHT, THE PILOT LEANED FORWARD TO SCAN THE AREA AHEAD. HE FELT AIRCRAFT SHUDDER AND REALIZED HE HAD VERY LITTLE AIRSPEED. THE SEARCH LIGHT REVEALED THAT HE HAD A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT WHEN THE PILOT APPLIED POWER TO ARREST THE RATE OF DESCENT. THE PILOT INITIATED A RIGHT TURN AND APPLIED ADDITIONAL POWER. THE PILOT CLAIMS THAT HE HAD ENTERED INTO A SETTLING WITH POWER SITUATION. THE HELICOPTER TURNED 90 DEGREES AND STABILIZED. THE PILOT APPLIED ADDITIONAL POWER TO CLIMB ABOVE AND CLEAR THE TREE LINE. THE PILOT ELECTED TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT APPROXIMATELY 18 MILES TO THE RUSSELLVILLE AR REGIONAL AIRPORT WITH THE KNOWN DAMAGED TAIL ROTOR. UPON EXECUTING A NORMAL SHALLOW APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY THE PILOT ELECTED TO TAXI THE AIRCRAFT TO THE HANGAR. HE DID A NORMAL SHUTDOWN.

## 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 FTW02LA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA176), Jun 9, 2002: Bell 206L-3 (N103AE), Dover, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with trees during the approach. A contributing factor was dark night light conditions.

## Other reports on N103AE (1)

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

- [Accident 20031128034249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031128034249A), Nov 28, 2003: Bell 206L1 (N103AE), Paris/Subiaco, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot in commamd failed to follow the checklist. In doing so, the pilot in command endangered the property and life of another. The bio-hazard area…

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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