# Accident 20031128034249A: Bell 206L1, Paris/Subiaco, AR, November 28, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 28, 2003, 22:08 local time
- Place: Paris/Subiaco, AR
- Airport: Paris Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Starting Engines
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: EVCA
- Location: 35.2989° N, 93.6817° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2989&lon=-93.6817&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
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 10,500 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW04CA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04CA030) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031128034249A

## Narrative

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

(-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 CONSISTED OF BODY FLUIDS (BLOOD) EXCRETED FROM FACIAL LACERATIONS. ON NOVEMBER 28, 2003, AT APPROXIMATELY 2214 LOCAL TIME, THE PILOT IN COMMAND OF N103AE, A BELL 206-L1, ATTEMPTED TO START THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES SECURED (TIED DOWN) TO THE TAIL BOOM. AT APPROXIMATELY 55% N1 DURING THE START SEQUENCE, THE ROTOR BLADE SECURED TO THE TAIL BOOM SEVERED (BROKE) APPROXIMATELY 19 TO 25 INCHES OUTBOARD OF THE ROTOR BLADE MOUNTING POINT. WITH THE BLADE SEVERED, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A VIOLENT UNBALANCED CONDITION, VICIOUSLY BOUNCING ABOUT THE HELICOPTER PARKING AREA. THE PILOT IN COMMAND SUCCESSFULLY PLACED THE THROTTLE TO THE OFF POSITION, THE ENGINE SECURED AND THE ROTOR SYSTEM CAME TO REST WHEN THE REMAINING ROTOR BLADE MADE TAIL BOOM CONTACT. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, THE PILOT IN COMMAND INCURRED MINOR INJURIES AND THE FLIGHT NURSE SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. THE WEATHER WAS VFR WITH A SLIGHT WIND. A COMPANY FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED

## 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 FTW04CA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04CA030), Nov 29, 2003: Bell 206L1 (N103AE), Paris, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to remove the main rotor tiedown prior to engine startup. Contributing factors were the pressure induced by conditions/events, improper preflight of the aircraft, and dark night…

## Other reports on N103AE (1)

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

- [Accident 20020609014979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020609014979A), Jun 9, 2002: Bell 206L1 (N103AE), Dover, AR, No damage. (-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…

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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