# Accident 20160730025009A: Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, Modesto, CA, July 30, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 30, 2016, 04:40 local time
- Place: Modesto, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: S47M
- Location: 37.6242° N, 120.9494° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6242&lon=-120.9494&mi=10
- Aircraft: N206LW, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N206LW) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 (registry code 1182107, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 SER 400HP (registry code 03013, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON 206L-1
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250 SER 400HP
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 7,200 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA16CA408](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA408) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160730025009A

## Narrative

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

AT 4:40 AM WHILE RETURNING FROM A HIKER RESCUE MISSION WITH THE STAINISLAUS COUNTY SHERRIF'S DEPARTMENT IN A BELL 206, THE PILOT WAS ASKED TO RETURN TO THE AREA AND LOOK FOR ANOTHER MISSING PERSON WHO CALLED ON THEIR CELL PHONE AND THE BATTERY WAS RUNNING LOW.

THE PILOT DID THE RESCUE AND RETURNED TO THE MODESTO AIRPORT (KMOD).  TURNING FINAL TO THE LANDING AREA ( HANGAR) THE PILOT NOTICED THAT THE LOW FUEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHICH MEANS THAT ONLY 10 MINUTES OF FUEL REMAINED.  THE ENGINE FLAMED OUT WHEN A TURN WAS INITIATED AND THE PILOT AUTOROTATED TO THE TOUCHDODWN IN FRONT OF THE HANGAR.  THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AS THE MAIN ROTOR CONTACTED THE TAIL AND THE TAIL WAS DAMAGED.  NO INJURY TO EITHER OCCUPANT.  NIGHT VMC CONDITIONS EXISTED.

THIS WAS A PUBLIC AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS CONDUCTED UNDER 14CFR PART 91.

## 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 GAA16CA408](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA408), Jul 30, 2016: Bell Helicopter Textron 206 (N206LW), Modesto, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during an autorotation, which resulted in abnormal ground contact and main rotor contact with the tail boom. Contributing to the accident was the low…

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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