# Accident 20210316005689A: Bell 206L-3, Lucerne Valley, CA, March 16, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 16, 2021, 07:30 local time
- Place: Lucerne Valley, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.4428° N, 116.6843° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4428&lon=-116.6843&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6133C, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6133C) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206L-3 (registry code 1182108, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l-3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C30 series (registry code 03015, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c30-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L-3
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250-C30 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 555 total, 30 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR21LA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA133) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210316005689A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE FLYING IN A SOUTHWESTERLY DIRECTION A GUST OF WIND CAUSED THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT TO YAW TO THE RIGHT, WHICH THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT FOR AS THE AIRCRAFT NEARED THE GROUND THE PILOT FLARED THE HELICOPTER THE BEST HE COULD. THE TAIL STRUCK THE GROUND PRIOR TO THE AIRCRAFT BEING LEVEL. THE TAIL STRIKE WAS FOLLOWED BY THE MAIN SKIDS CONTACTING THE DESERT FLOOR VERY HARD. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON IT RIGHT SIDE. THE PILOT AND THE PASSENGER EXIT THE HELICOPTER, THERE WAS NO FIRE. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY PERSONAL 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 WPR21LA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA133), Mar 16, 2021: Bell 206 (N6133C), Lucerne Valley, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering with a tailwind, resulting in the helicopter spinning and colliding with terrain.

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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