20050915025999A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Bell 206B · Elk Point, SD · September 15, 2005

Date: September 15, 2005 · 18:15 local
Place: Elk Point, SD
Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: CUHG
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N2995W
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI05CA271
Reported as: Bell 206B
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 15,000 total3,000 in this make and model150 in the last 90 days

N2995WRegistered now · Bell 206BS/N 1192 · Built 1973 Airframe modelBell 206B Engine modelAllison 250-C20 seriesTurbo-prop

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 September 15, 2005, at about 1815 CDT, the pilot took off in a BHT-206-B helicopter intending to spray herbicide on sand bars on the Missouri river, south of Elk Point, SD. The winds were out of the south at about 7 mph. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot experienced loss of tail rotor effectiveness. He said that full left rudder would not stop the aircraft from turning right. He said he thought about putting the aircraft in the water, but was not sure how deep the water was. He attempted to make it back to the nurse truck, where he had departed. He had to reduce power to keep the aircraft from rotating, but he lost altitude. He struck the river bank about 7 feet from the top. The blades struck the sandy bank and the aircraft came to rest on its left side. The helicopter received substantial damage; the pilot received minor injuries.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2005, AT ABOUT 1815 CDT, THE PILOT TOOK OFF IN A BHT-206-B HELICOPTER INTENDING TO SPRAY HERBICIDE ON SAND BARS ON THE MISSOURI RIVER, SOUTH OF ELK POINT, SD. THE WINDS WERE OUT OF THE SOUTH AT ABOUT 7 MPH. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS. HE SAID THAT FULL LEFT RUDDER WOULD NOT STOP THE AIRCRAFT FROM TURNING RIGHT. HE SAID HE THOUGHT ABOUT PUTTING THE AIRCRAFT IN THE WATER, BUT WAS NOT SURE HOW DEEP THE WATER WAS. HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE IT BACK TO THE NURSE TRUCK, WHERE HE HAD DEPARTED. HE HAD TO REDUCE POWER TO KEEP THE AIRCRAFT FROM ROTATING, BUT HE LOST ALTITUDE. HE STRUCK THE RIVER BANK ABOUT 7 FEET FROM THE TOP. THE BLADES STRUCK THE SANDY BANK AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE. THE HELICOPTER RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE; THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.

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 CHI05CA271Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportElk Point, SDThe loss of directional control for undetermined reasons which led to the pilot not being able to maintain clearance from the embankment during the forced landing. The rising embankment was a factor.Sep 15, 2005 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N2995W · 1

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

Accident 19880317008979AIdling Rotors · Honolulu, HIBecame airborne while sitting on pad with rotors slowing when pilot reached to tune radio. Drifted into a fence.Mar 17, 1988 · Substantial damage