# Accident 20050502011379A: Bell 206L1, Peach Springs, AZ, May 2, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 2, 2005, 09:45 local time
- Place: Peach Springs, AZ
- Airport: Grand Canyon West
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: PG9L
- Location: 35.9833° N, 113.7667° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9833&lon=-113.7667&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3895D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3895D) (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-C28 series (registry code 03022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c28-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L1
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,586 total, 770 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX05LA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA155) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050502011379A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON MAY 2, 2005, AT APPROXIMATELY 0945 MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, N3895D, A BELL 206-L1 AIRCRAFT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A WOODED AREA DURING AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION. THERE WAS NO INJURY TO THE PILOT BUT THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. DURING AN INTERVIEW, THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS POSITIONING TO DROP THE LOAD OFF (THE LOAD WAS ABOUT 4-5 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND) HE HEARD A TONE ALERT IN HIS HEADSET. (NOTE: THIS SYSTEM ACTIVATES ONLY WHEN THE ENGINE REACHES ABOVE 100% TORQUE, AND A TORQUE OF 104% WAS RECORDED). HE IMMEDIATELY LOOKS BACK INSIDE THE COCKPIT TO INVESTIGATE THE TONE ALERT. THE PILOT THEN FELT A "DING" FOLLOWED BY LEFT AND RIGHT YAW AND SEVERE UP AND DOWN AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS. HE ALSO HEAD A LOUD LOW FREQUENCY POPPING SOUND AND EXPERIENCED A RAPID DESCENT. HE RAISED THE COLLECTIVE TO STOP THE DESCENT BUT THE VIBRATION AND THE LOUD POPPING SOUND GOT WORSE. REALIZING THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO STABILIZE THE AIRCRAFT HE ENTERED AUTOROTATION. DUE TO UNEVEN SURFACE AND TALL TREES AROUND THE LANDING AREA, THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE TAIL BOOM, TAIL ROTOR BLADES, MAIN ROTOR BLADES AND THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR SKID.

## 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 LAX05LA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA155), May 2, 2005: Bell 206L-1 (N3895D), Peach Springs, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: a loss of power for undetermined reasons.

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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