# Accident 20120525009189A: Bell 206B, Long Boat Key, FL, May 25, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 25, 2012, 14:22 local time
- Place: Long Boat Key, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.3867° N, 82.6381° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.3867&lon=-82.6381&mi=10
- Aircraft: N806LA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N806LA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206B (registry code 1181511, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C20 (registry code 03080, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250-C20
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 13,800 total, 400 in this make and model, 125 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA12LA366](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA366) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120525009189A

## Narrative

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

APPROXIMATELY 2:25 PM AT A HEIGHT OF 500 FT. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ HAD A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE (REASON UNKNOWN AT THIS POINT).  HE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6.5 KM FROM THE AIRPORT ALONG THE LONGBOAT KEY SHORELINE.  THE INITIAL INDICATION WAS A YAW AND IMMEDIATELY AN ENGINE OUT AUDIO.  ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ IMMEDIATELY LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND BEGAN AN AUTOROTATION WHILE LOOKING FOR A SUTABLE LANDING AREA. AT THAT POINT HE NOTED THAT THE TACH GENERATOR WAS WINDING DOWN TOWARD ZERO AND THE ROTOR WAS IN THE GREEN.  HE WAS ASSURED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN TRIM AND I WAS HOLDING 65 MPH ON THE AIRSPEED.THE AUTOROTATION WAS IN PARAMETERS AND HE PICKED A SAFE LANDING AREA WHERE THERE WERE NO PEOPLE FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS.  I BEGAN MY DECELERATION AT 75 FT.  HE THEN PULLED APPROXIMATELY ½ INCH OF UP COLLECTIVE AND PITCHED FOR A LEVEL CONDITION AT 15 FT.  ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THEN BEGAN TO CUSHION THE DECENT WITH INCREASING COLLECTIVE AND MADE A VERY GENTLE TOUCHDOWN ON THE SAND.  THE GROUND RUN WAS MINIMAL BUT THE HELICOPTER DUG INTO THE EXTREMELY SOFT SAND AND THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT COVER AND SEVERED THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT.

## 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 ERA12LA366](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA366), May 25, 2012: Bell 206B (N806LA), Longboat Key, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: Unknown personnel's failure to comply with the engine manufacturer's engine fuel pump replacement guidance, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to the engine fuel pump failure.

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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