# Accident 20051230033939A: Bell 206L4, Washington, LA, December 30, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 30, 2005, 15:42 local time
- Place: Washington, LA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: HDCA
- Location: 30.6058° N, 91.9919° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6058&lon=-91.9919&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1811 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 9,800 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DFW06CA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA048) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051230033939A

## Narrative

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

(-23) WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 600 FEET AND 120 MPH INDICATED AIRSPEED, A BUZZARD HIT THE PILOT WINDSHIELD, SHATTERING IT. THE BUZZARD PASSED THROUGH THE SHATTERED WINDSHIELD AND HIT THE PILOT IN THE FACE CAUSING A MOMENTARILY LOSS OF FLIGHT CONTROL. THE PILOT REGAINED CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND TRIED TO LAND IN A LARGE OPEN FIELD. THE PILOT LOST VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE GROUND DUE TO BLOOD IN HIS EYES AND LANDED HARD, BREAKING THE LEFT SKID OFF THE HELICOPTER AND ROLLING OVER ONTO THE LEFT SIDE BEFORE COMING TO REST. PILOT SHUT DOWN THE HELICOPTER AND EXITED THROUGH THE SHATTERED WINDSHIELD. PILOT WAS TAKEN TO A NEARBY HOSPITAL FOR X-RAYS AND PHYSICAL EXAMINATION DUE TO FACE AND EYES INJURIES.

## 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 DFW06CA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA048), Dec 30, 2005: Bell 206L-4 (N1811), Washington, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The in-flight collision with a bird and the pilot's physical impairment (vision), directional control was not possible.

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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