# Accident 20130523011509A: Bell 206B, Chesterfield, MO, May 23, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 23, 2013, 21:00 local time
- Place: Chesterfield, MO
- Airport: Spirit Of St. Louis Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: EVCA
- Location: 38.7511° N, 90.3714° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7511&lon=-90.3714&mi=10
- Aircraft: N297CA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N297CA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206B (registry code 1181511, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20B (registry code 54385, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C20B
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 6,888 total, 5,717 in this make and model, 81 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN13LA378](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA378) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130523011509A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 CEN13LA378](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA378), May 24, 2013: Bell 206B (N297CA), St Louis, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power due to the separation of compressor blades, which resulted from fatigue cracking.

## Other reports on N297CA (1)

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

- [Accident 20260716007599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260716007599A), Jul 16, 2026: Bell 206B (N297CA), St Joseph, IL, Destroyed. On July 16, 2026, at approximately 1915 local time, a Bell 206 helicopter was involved in an accident while conducting 14 CFR part 137 agricultural spraying…

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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