# Accident 20020706021519A: Bell 206B, Threerivers, MI, July 6, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 6, 2002, 08:45 local time
- Place: Threerivers, MI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.9394° N, 85.6310° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9394&lon=-85.6310&mi=10
- Aircraft: N60EA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60EA-2019-06-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206B (registry code 1181511, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20 (registry code 54178, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,700 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI02LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA181) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020706021519A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON JULY 6, 2002, AT 0945 EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST), BELL 206B, N60EA, PILOTED BY A COMMERCIAL PILOT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING AFTER LIFTOFF FROM A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY IN THREE RIVERS, MICHIGAN. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS OPERATING UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91 WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT 0945 EST WITH THE INTENDED DESTINATION OF GOSHEN AIRPORT, GOSHEN, INDIANA. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S WRITTEN STATEMENT, "THE TAKEOFF WAS NORMAL AND UPON REACHING AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 75' TO CLEAR THE TREES AND POWER LINES I STARTED TO ACCELERATE TO FORWARD FLIGHT. AT THE TIME THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE FORWARD, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SPIN TO THE RIGHT AND THE TAIL ROTOR SUDDENLY LOST ALL EFFECTIVENESS." THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE " ... IDENTIFIED THIS AS A LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR AND BEGAN TO EFFECT AN EMERGENCY LANDING. POWER LINES WERE BELOW ME AND THE AIRCRAFT HAD ALREADY SPUN 3 AND A HALF COMPLETE REVOLUTIONS. I MANAGED TO MANEUVER THE AIRCRAFT TO AN OPEN PASTURE AREA AND LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE BRINGING THE AIRCRAFT DOWN TO THE GROUND." HE STATED THAT WHEN THEAIRCRAFT REACHED THE GROUND THE " ... TOUCHDOWN WAS LEVEL WITH NO FORWARD MOTION BUT WAS STILL TURNING SLIGHTLY." THE PILOT REPORTED, " ... THE TAILS OF THE SKID GEAR BROKE OFF AND THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED DOWN AND THE TAIL ROTOR HIT THE GROUND." (-23) AFTER TAKE-OFF, PILOT STATED A LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR. THE HELICOPTER SPUN 3-5 TIMES AROUND BEFORE EXECUTING A HARD LANDING IN A COW PASTURE. NO INJURIES TO EITHER PILOT NOR SINGLE PASSENGER.

## 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 CHI02LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA181), Jul 6, 2002: Bell 206B (N60EA), Three Rivers, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of tail rotor effectiveness.

## Other reports on N60EA (1)

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

- [Accident 20171024014989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171024014989A), Oct 24, 2017: Bell 206B (N60EA), Groom, TX, Substantial damage. October 24, 2017, approximately 1540 local time, N60EA, a Bell 206B helicopter sustained substantial damage during a forced landing after a total loss of…

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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