# Accident 20160416003039A: Bell 206B, Baltimore, MD, April 16, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 16, 2016, 12:35 local time
- Place: Baltimore, MD
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: 5SKA
- Location: 39.1731° N, 76.6903° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1731&lon=-76.6903&mi=10
- Aircraft: N326AC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N326AC-2018-03-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206B (registry code 1181511, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 SER 400HP (registry code 03013, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250 SER 400HP
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,870 total, 30 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA16CA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16CA160) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160416003039A

## Narrative

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

DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT:

ON 04/16/16,  A BELL 206B(N326AC), OPERATING UNDER PART 91,WAS PERFORMING POWER LINE OBSERVATIONS FOR BALTIMORE GAS & ELECTRIC.

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE INITIATED A HOVER FROM A DESCENT, OVERTORQUED THE AIRCRAFT, EXPERIENCED THE ONSET OF LTE(LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS) AND ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLABLE DESCENDING RIGHT SPIN TO THE GROUND.

THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND AND THE OCCUPANTS EVACUATED THE AIRCRAFT, FOLLOWED BY A BATTERY EXPLOSION AND FIRE ENGULFING THE AIRCRAFT RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF THE AIRCRAFT.

CAUSAL FACTORS:

PILOT OVER TORQUED THE AIRCRAFT REQUIRING MORE RUDDER AUTHORITY THAN HE HAD AVAILABLE RESULTING IN LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS (LTE).

RECOMMENDATION:

44709 CHECK RIDE TO ESTABLISH PILOT COMPETENCY SPECIFICALLY WHEN HOVERING OUT OF GROUND EFFECT.

COMMENTS:

VIDEO/AUDIO EVIDENCE DEPICTS AIRCRAFT ENTERING AN UNCONTROLLABLE RIGHT SPIN (INDICATIVE OF LTE).

VIDEO/AUDIO EVIDENCE DEPICTS BOTH MAIN AND TAIL ROTOR ACTIVELY SPINNING AND AIRCRAFT ENGINE ENGAGED AND OPERATING.

VIDEO/AUDIO EVIDENCE DEPICTS AIRCRAFT UNCONTROLLABLY SPINNING TO IMPACT WITH THE GROUND.

SUBSEQUENT VIDEO/AUDIO EVIDENCE DEPICTS AIRCRAFT AND FOREST ABLAZE.

PILOT HAD 30 HRS IN MAKE AND MODEL.

PILOT WAS JUST RECENTLY CLEARED TO FLY POWER LINE OBSERVATION THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT.

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^

## 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 ERA16CA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16CA160), Apr 16, 2016: Bell 206 (N326AC), Baltimore, MD, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind while hovering out of ground effect, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.

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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