# Accident 20130606012489A: Bell 206-L4, Abbeville, LA, June 6, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 6, 2013, 10:00 local time
- Place: Abbeville, LA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.9693° N, 92.1208° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9693&lon=-92.1208&mi=10
- Aircraft: N720RL (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206-L4
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYC 250 20&30 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 5,350 total, 80 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN13LA321](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA321) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130606012489A

## Narrative

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

POST EXTENSIVE MAINTENANCE, AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN EQUIPED WITH MICRO-VIBE EQUIP FOR MAIN ROTOR TRACK & BALANCE, AND WAS EQUIPPED WITH A HANGING BAMBI BUCKET DURING THE MAINTENANCE FLIGHT.

DURING THE MAINTENANCE FLIGHT AT AN APX 20' HOVER, THE PILOT FELT A 'FLUTTER' & 'VIBRATION', THEN HEARD A 'POP', AND THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN AN UNCOMMENDED NOSE RIGHT YAW. THE PILOT ACCOMPLISHED THE MFG RECOMMENDED EP'S. THE A/C LANDED HARD IN A SHALLOW POND.

A/C WAS DESTROYED.

## 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 CEN13LA321](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA321), Jun 6, 2013: Bell 206-L4 (N720RL), Abbeville, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure of maintenance personnel to ensure adequate torque of a tailrotor drive shaft coupling bolt, which resulted in the partial disconnection of the drive shaft.

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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