# Accident 20160418003949A: Bell 206-L4, Arden Hills, MN, April 18, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 18, 2016, 12:24 local time
- Place: Arden Hills, MN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Location: 45.0842° N, 93.1586° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0842&lon=-93.1586&mi=10
- Aircraft: N119SP, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N119SP) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407 (registry code 1182154, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-canada-407) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206-L4
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250-C30 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,480 total, 800 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN16LA156](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA156) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160418003949A

## Narrative

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

ROTORCRAFT APPROACHED AND LIGHT HOVERED ON TOP OF 9' TALL STEEL "CONEX" CONTAINER FOR THE PURPOSE OF PICKING UP TWO FIREFIGHTERS DURING TRAINING.  PILOT FELT OR HEARD A BANG WHICH HE LIKENED TO SENSATION OF TAILSTRIKE BUT REALIZED TAILSTRIKE NOT POSSIBLE.

PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB OFF CONTAINER AND LAND.  INITIALLY THE CRAFT CLIMBED BUT QUICKLY LOST LIFT.  PILOT TURNED RIGHT TO AVOID AN OBSTACLE AND HARD LANDED.  MAIN ROTORS BROKE AS THEY CONTACTED STEEL CONTAINERS, TAIL BOOM FLEXED UP AND DOWN BREAKING NEAR ROOT AND BENDING DOWNWARD UNCOUPLING TAILROTOR SHAFT.  SKIDS WERE SPLAYED OUT DO TO LANDING FORCE. INJURED PILOT TREATED AT HOSPITAL AND RELEASED.

## 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 CEN16LA156](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA156), Apr 18, 2016: Bell 206 (N119SP), Arden Hills, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence

## Other reports on N119SP (3)

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

- [Incident 20050506013229I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050506013229I), May 6, 2005: Bell 206L4 (N119SP), Aitkin, MN, Minor damage. (-23) The PIC started the helicopter at 0300L on 5/6/2005. Prior to lift off an overspeed may have occurred possibly resulting in an number of component…
- [Accident 19990409043959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990409043959A), Apr 9, 1999: Bell 206L4 (N119SP), Cloquet, MN, No damage. (-23) N119SP departed mic for coq after completion of an annual inspection and series of maintenance flights. The a/c ran out of fuel about five (5) miles…
- [Incident 19900406018579I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900406018579I), Apr 6, 1990: Bell 206B (N119SP), Cloguet, MN, Minor damage. Hit a power wire in flight. Landed safely off airport. Wires damaged swashplate and main rotorhead.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.