20050504012919I

Incident · Substantial damage

FAA incident report · Bell 206L · Georgetown, TX · May 4, 2005

Date: May 4, 2005 · 16:15 local
Place: Georgetown, TX
Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N9877Z
NTSB investigation: NTSBDFW05CA121
Reported as: Bell 206L
Reported engine: Allison 250C30
People aboard: 6
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 6,000 total2,013 in this make and model150 in the last 90 days

N9877ZRegistration cancelled Nov 14, 2006 · Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1S/N 45339 · Built 1973 Airframe modelBell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 Engine modelRolls-Royce 250-C30PTurbo-shaft

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On may 4, 2005 approximately 1430 CDT, a Bell 206 single engine helicopter, N9877Z, sustained substantial damage when the pilot executed a forced landing. VMC prevailed for the survey flight and a flight plan was not filed. The pilot reported that he felt a shudder and vibration followed by an uncommanded yaw. He entered an autorotation. Neither the pilot nor the five passengers were injured. Later investigation of the aircraft did not turn up evidence of component failure.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON MAY 4, 2005 APPROXIMATELY 1430 CDT, A BELL 206 SINGLE ENGINE HELICOPTER, N9877Z, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING. VMC PREVAILED FOR THE SURVEY FLIGHT AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE FELT A SHUDDER AND VIBRATION FOLLOWED BY AN UNCOMMANDED YAW. HE ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION. NEITHER THE PILOT NOR THE FIVE PASSENGERS WERE INJURED. LATER INVESTIGATION OF THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT TURN UP EVIDENCE OF COMPONENT FAILURE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB DFW05CA121Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportGeorgetown, TXThe pilot's improper flare resulting in a hard landing.May 4, 2005 · Substantial damage