# Accident 20210204000139A: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206B, South Bay, FL, February 4, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 4, 2021, 00:15 local time
- Place: South Bay, FL
- Airport: X10
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: NJUG
- Location: 26.7466° N, 80.6556° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7466&lon=-80.6556&mi=10
- Aircraft: N820H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N820H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206B (registry code 1181519, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-canada-206b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C20 series (registry code 03020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 206B
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250-C20B SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA21LA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA126) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210204000139A

## Narrative

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

ON FEBRUARY 4,2021 AT APROX 0015L, N820H HELICOPTER CRASHED WHILE BEING USED FOR ROTOR DOWNWASH OF WARM ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ONTO CORN CROPS, IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN TEMPERATURES ABOVE 32 DEGREE'S FAHRENHEIT. THE PILOT WAS ON AN EASTBOUND PASS, AT FLIGHT LEVEL OF 40-45 FEET AGL WHILE NEARING END OF A CROP ROW, EXPERIENCED A LOW ROTOR WARNING HORN WITH A RED MASTER CAUTION ILLUMINATION LIGHT ON GLARESHIELD. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO CLEAR AN IRRIGATION DITCH WITH SUFFICIENT FORWARD MOMENTUM TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT ONTO THE ADJACENT  SUGAR CANE FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT DROPPED HARD AND ROLLED ON ITS LEFT SIDE AS ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. ENGINE AND BATTERY SHUTDOWN PROCEDURE OCCURED AS BOTH THE PILOT AND PASSENGER EVACUATED AIRCRAFT. THE PASSENGER NOTICED INITIAL FIRE WAS IGNITED BY THE CANE STALK LEAVES, AS THEY CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE TURBINE EXHAUST. THE HELICOPTER WAS FULLY ENGULFED THEREAFTER, AND OCCUPANTS SUFFERED NO INJURIES. PER OUR  COVERSATION WITH THE PILOT, THE HELICOPTER HAD 45 + 15 MINUTES OF FUEL REMAINING WHEN LOSS OF ENGINE RPM OCCURRED, JUST PRIOR TO ACCIDENT.    CAUSE OF ACCIDENT PRESENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE NTSB AND ENGINE MANUFACTURE ROLLS ROYCE.

## 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 ERA21LA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA126), Feb 4, 2021: Bell 206 (N820H), Pahokee, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of main rotor rpm for reasons that could not be determined, which resulted in an autorotation and a subsequent hard landing and rollover.

## Other reports on N820H (1)

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

- [Accident 20020530037919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020530037919A), May 30, 2002: Bell 206B (N820H), Columbus, OH, Substantial damage. (-23) This public use aircraft was under the operational control of the Ohio department of transportation. The commercial flight instructor (Mr. Vey) stated…

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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