20050624024139A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Bell 206L-3 · Algonac, MI · June 24, 2005

Date: June 24, 2005 · 15:23 local
Place: Algonac, MI
Phase of flight: Descent
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N311JX
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI05CA156
Reported as: Bell 206L3
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 266 total230 in this make and model36 in the last 90 days

N311JXRegistration cancelled Aug 18, 2005 · Bell 206L-3S/N 51251 · Built 1988 Airframe modelBell 206L-3 Engine modelAllison 250-C30 seriesTurbo-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) The pilot stated that he was on a sight seeing flight when he caught a gust of wind. The aircraft started to spin and impacted a power line which caused the tail rotor to separate from the helicopter. The helicopter came to rest on its left side. The aircraft was destroyed. The tail boom broke.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ON A SIGHT SEEING FLIGHT WHEN HE CAUGHT A GUST OF WIND. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO SPIN AND IMPACTED A POWER LINE WHICH CAUSED THE TAIL ROTOR TO SEPARATE FROM THE HELICOPTER. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. THE TAIL BOOM BROKE.

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 CHI05CA156Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportAlgonac, MIThe pilot not maintaining helicopter control, the loss of tail rotor effectiveness he encountered, and his not maintaining clearance from objects during the approach. Factor were the low altitude, the transmission lines, and the garage.Jun 24, 2005 · Substantial damage