# Accident 20110915021979A: Bell 206B, Spicewood, TX, September 15, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 15, 2011, 09:30 local time
- Place: Spicewood, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.4778° N, 98.1211° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4778&lon=-98.1211&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3181J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3181J-2019-01-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206B (registry code 1181511, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 SER 250HP (registry code 03002, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250 SER 250HP
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 112 total, 112 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN11LA646](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA646) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110915021979A

## Narrative

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

ON 09/15/2011 AT APPROXIMATLEY 0815 HRS, PILOT WAS ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT WITH ONE PASSENGER IN A BELL 206B HELICOPTER CRUISING AT 105 KNOTS AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATLEY 250 - 300 FT AGL WHEN ENGINE RPM DROPPED TO FLIGHT IDLE SPEED. PILOT HAD NO PREVIOUS WARNING OF IMPENDING ENGINE FAILURE. PILOT EXECUTED AUTO ROTATION TO LANDING SITE. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED GROUND AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE THEN ROLLED OVER AND CAME TO REST ON IT'S RIGHT HAND SIDE. FUEL DEPELETION WAS NOT A FACTOR. PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURY TO HIS BACK AND WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AND RELEASED LATER THAT DAY. FUEL ONBOARD WAS APPROXIMATLEY SIXTY GALLONS. THERE WAS NO POST CRASH FIRE. REPRESENTATIVES FROM ROLLS ROYCE ENGINES AND FROM BELL HELICOPTER ASSISTED FAA IN THE INVESTIGATION. THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED AND INSPECTED EXTERNALLY NO SIGNIFICANT CAUSE FOR FAILURE WAS NOTED. ENGINE WILL BE SENT TO ROLLS ROYCE FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS.

## 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 CEN11LA646](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA646), Sep 15, 2011: Bell 206B (N3181J), Spicewood, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot did not maintain adequate rotor rpm during a low-altitude maneuvering flight.

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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