# Accident 20030805018939A: Bell 206B, Merced, CA, August 5, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 5, 2003, 13:00 local time
- Place: Merced, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.3258° N, 120.5258° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3258&lon=-120.5258&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9254Y (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20R
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,100 total, 500 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX03LA253](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA253) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030805018939A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON 8/05/03, AT APPROXIMATELY 1300 PDT, ROY W. PETTIT, COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATE 548350340, PIC OF N9254Y, A BHT 206BIII HELICOPTER, OPERATING UNDER 14CFR91, CRASHED DURING ATTEMPTED LANDING AT A RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION SITE IN MERCED, CA. THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE UNINJURED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PILOT CONDUCTED A STEEP APPROACH TO A 12'X12', 4" HIGH, CONCRETE PAD, AND LANDED WITH THE FORWARD THIRD OF THE SKIDS ON THE PAD. THE HELICOPTER TILTED TAIL LOW STRIKING THE TAIL GUARD ON THE GROUND. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE REARWARD TILT WITH FORWARD CYCLIC AND A RAPID INCREASE OF COLLECTIVE PITCH. THE HELICOPTER LIFTED OFF THE PAD TO APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET TO 10 FEET AND ACCELERATED FORWARD IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED HARD RIGHT IMPACTING THE GROUND ON THE TOE OF THE RIGHT SKID. THE ADVANCING MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. INSPECTION DETERMINED THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM WAS INTACT AND FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND WAS NOT A CAUSAL FACTOR.

## 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 LAX03LA253](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA253), Aug 5, 2003: Bell 206B (N9254Y), Merced, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's excessive movement of the helicopter's controls during an aborted landing, which resulted in a loss of control (dynamic rollover) and an in-flight collision with terrain.

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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