What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On may 23, 2013 at approximately 2100 hrs. The flight instructor was acting as the pilot in command of helicopter N297CA, a Bell helicopter BHT-206B, s/n 1453. The flight instructor stated that while demonstrating a take off procedure to pilot under training. At approximately 50 knots and an altitude of 20 to 25 feet he heard a very loud bang and the helicopter immediately yawed to the left. The instructor stated that he had an engine failure and controlled the helicopter to the ground and skid slid approximately 20 to 25 feet. There had been no previous indications of any problems. No injuries were reported. As a result of this failure the helicopter was subjected to a hard landing which resulted in substantial damage to the helicopter.
As the FAA filed it
ON MAY 23, 2013 AT APPROXIMATELY 2100 HRS. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS ACTING AS THE PILOT IN COMMAND OF HELICOPTER N297CA, A BELL HELICOPTER BHT-206B, S/N 1453. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT WHILE DEMONSTRATING A TAKE OFF PROCEDURE TO PILOT UNDER TRAINING. AT APPROXIMATELY 50 KNOTS AND AN ALTITUDE OF 20 TO 25 FEET HE HEARD A VERY LOUD BANG AND THE HELICOPTER IMMEDIATELY YAWED TO THE LEFT. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT HE HAD AN ENGINE FAILURE AND CONTROLLED THE HELICOPTER TO THE GROUND AND SKID SLID APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 25 FEET. THERE HAD BEEN NO PREVIOUS INDICATIONS OF ANY PROBLEMS. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE THE HELICOPTER WAS SUBJECTED TO A HARD LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N297CA · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.