# Accident 20160425015169A: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206L-4, Katy, TX, April 25, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 25, 2016, 18:46 local time
- Place: Katy, TX
- Airport: Memorial Hermann
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: EVCA
- Location: 29.7806° N, 95.5453° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7806&lon=-95.5453&mi=10
- Aircraft: N435AE, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N435AE) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206L-4 (registry code 1181455, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-canada-206l-4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C30P (registry code 54013, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c30p) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 206L-4
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C30P
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN16LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA168) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160425015169A

## Narrative

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

THE EVOLUTION BEGAN AT THE MEMORIAL HERMANN HELICOPTER PAD WITH THE AIRCRAFT ON A WEST HEADING. THE PIC HAD RETURNED FROM REFUELING AT SGR TO PICK-UP THE CREW. HE LIFTED INTO A HOVER, PEDDLE TURNED TO A SOUTHERNLY HEADING, INTO THE OBSERVED WIND WHILE CLIMBING AND SIDE SLIPPED TO THE EAST.

OUT OF GROUND EFFECT (OGE) HOVER AND NO TRANSLATIONAL LIFT MIXED WITH TURBULENT WINDS OF APPROXIMATELY 11 MPH, WITH GUSTS OF APPROXIMATELY 21 MPH, THAT WHERE MULTIDIRECTIONAL, PREVENTED THE PIC FROM ESTABLISHING A CONSTANT HEADING. THE PIC FOUGHT TO  MAINTAIN HEADING BUT, SOON OPTED TO SETTLE AND LAND BECAUSE OF THE RESULTANT LOSS OF TAILROTOR EFFECTIVENESS (LTE).

THE LANDING WAS TO THE S.E. CORNER OF THE PAD, IN THE GRASS. THE GROUND WAS SLOPPING, AND THE LEFT AIRCRAFT SKID AND TAIL VERTICAL FIN STINGER STRUCK THE GROUND IN A WAY THAT CAUSE THE COLLAPSE OF THE LEFT SKID AND TAIL ROTOR TO TWIST ALLOWING THE TAILROTOR BLADES TO PARTCIALLY SEVER THE DRIVE SHAFT AND BOOM.

THE PIC QUICKLY PERFORMED THE EMERGENCY SHUT DOWN OF THE AIRCRAFT AND THE CREW EXITED THE VEHICLE.

## 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 CEN16LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA168), Apr 25, 2016: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206 L4 (N435AE), Houston, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in varying wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing.

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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