# Accident 20050205000889A: Bell 206B, Bonifay, FL, February 5, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 5, 2005, 05:50 local time
- Place: Bonifay, FL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: US4R
- Location: 30.8253° N, 85.8003° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8253&lon=-85.8003&mi=10
- Aircraft: N35BA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N35BA-2007-06-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206B (registry code 1181511, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA05FA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05FA055) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050205000889A

## Narrative

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

(-23) HELICOPTER DEPARTED AT APPROXIMATELY 0550 FROM A PASTURE ON A 090 HEADING CLIMBING TO 75' TO 100' AND TRAVELED 300'. THE HELICOPTER IMMEDIATELY TURNED TO A 180 HEADING AND TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 420' THEN ENTERED INTO A SLIGHT NOSE LOW DESCENT FOR APPROXIMATELY 140' THEN DROPPED SUDDENLY IMPACTING THE GROUND 200' FROM THE POINT OF INITIAL DESCENT. THE TOTAL AIRBORNE DISTANCE WAS NO MORE THAN 1000'. THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND ON ITS MAIN LANDING GEAR. IMPACT MARKS ON THE GROUND SHOWED NO FORWARD MOTION ON IMPACT, WITH THE GREATER IMPACT FORCE EXERTED ON THE RIGHT GEAR. UPON IMPACT THE HELICOPTER ROLLED RIGHT, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE CONTACTED THE GROUND AND INERTIA FORCE DETACHED THE TRANSMISSION AND ROTOR HEAD ASSEMBLY FROM THE TRANSMISSION DECK. THE HELICOPTER ENDED RESTING INVERTED. THE ENGINE COMPRESSOR AND TURBINE ASSEMBLY ROTATED FREELY AND WAS STILL LINKED TO THE TAIL ROTOR OUTPUT SHAFT. ALL INDICATIONS SUGGEST THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING AT IMPACT. THE TAIL ROTOR AND SPIDER ASSEMBLY WAS COMPLETE AND UNDAMAGED. THE TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOXES ROTATED FREELY AND WERE CONNECTED TO THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT. .25 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINED IN THE FUEL CELL. LAT. 30-59.512 LONG. 85-48.010

## 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 MIA05FA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05FA055), Feb 5, 2005: Bell 206B (N35BA), Bonifay, FL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain a climb after takeoff and his continued descent which resulted in an in-flight collision with the ground. A factor in the accident was the dark night.

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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