# Accident 20211028018029A: Bell 206L-3, Covelo, CA, October 28, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 28, 2021, 12:00 local time
- Place: Covelo, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: 1N7A
- Location: 39.7905° N, 123.2663° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7905&lon=-123.2663&mi=10
- Aircraft: N27TK, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N27TK) (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: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR22LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA031) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211028018029A

## Narrative

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

11/10/2021 RECEIVED REPORT OF A HELICOPTER INCIDENT THAT THAT TOOK PLACE NEAR COVELO, CALIFORNIA ON 10/28/2021

THE INCIDENT INCLUDED 4 PERSONS INCLUDING THE PILOT, AND INCLUDED A FORCED LANDING IN A DRY RIVER BED.

AT 12:00 PM ON 10/28/2021, THE PIC, PILOT IN COMMAND, PLANNED TO TAKE 3 INDIVIDUALS ON A PHOTOGRAPHY FLIGHT IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. THIS WAS A DOOR OFF OPERATION AND THE LEFT CABIN DOOR WAS REMOVED FOR PHOTOGRAPHY.

THE PILOT PICKED UP THE 3 PEOPLE AT UKIAH MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. THE PIC MENTIONED DURING THE BRIEFING THAT NO ARTICLES OF CLOTHING CAN BE REMOVED DURING FLIGHT DUE TO THE DOORS OFF OPERATION.

THE PIC SAID ABOUT 20 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT THE SECOND PERSON IN THE AFT OF THE HELICOPTER DECIDED TO REMOVE THEIR RAIN COAT. RIGHT BEFORE THE INCIDENT THE HELICOPTER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 85 KNOTS AT AN ATTITUDE OF 2700 MSL 1500 AGL. THE RAIN COAT WAS SUCKED OUT THE DOOR AND WAS CAUGHT ON THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER OF THE TAIL BOOM.

AT THAT POINT, THE PIC HEARD THE PERSON GASP AND SAY ?IT?S GONE.? THE PIC THEN FELT THE RESISTANCE ON THE CYCLIC FROM THE RAIN COAT. THE PIC DECIDED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING. THE PIC MADE A CONTROLLED DECENT TO THE GROUND, SAFELY LANDING THE AIRCRAFT IN THE RIVER BED. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED GROUND, THE FORCE OF IMPACT DISLODGED THE JACKET FROM THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND THE JACKET WAS INGESTED INTO THE TAIL ROTOR.

THE PIC SAID HE HEARD A LOUD POP, AND LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW. HE COULD SEE THE TAIL ROTOR WAS MOVING SLOWING THAN THE MAIN ROTOR. AT THAT POINT HE DECIDED TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. FROM PHOTOS PROVIDED IT APPEARS THE DRIVESHAFT FROM ENGINE TO TAIL ROTOR HAD BEEN TWISTED FROM TORSION STRESS AND BROKE INTO TWO PARTS.

THE GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF THE FORCE LANDING IS 39.6785, -123.1407

THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXTERNALLY SLUNG LOADED WITH ANOTHER HELICOPTER AND WAS MOVED TO THE CLOSEST AIRPORT, ROUND VALLEY AIRPORT. THERE THE AIRCRAFT WAS PUT ONTO A TRAILER AND TRANSPORTED TO ADVANCED HELICOPTERS IN WOODLAND, CA.

AS OF RIGHT NOW A PRELIMINARY REPORT OF ASSESSED DAMAGE HAS NOT BEEN MADE BY ADVANCED HELICOPTERS.

FURTHER CONVERSATION WITH THE PIC HAS DETERMINED THAT THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM USED BY THE PASSENGERS IN THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS A 3 POINT RESTRAINT. THIS IS THE ORIGINAL SYSTEM OF THE HELICOPTER, AND INCLUDES A LAP BELT AND SHOULDER HARNESS.

THE SYSTEM IS A SINGLE POINT RELEASE SYSTEM, BUT ONCE RELEASED THE LAP BELT AND SHOULDER HARNESS HAVE TO BE REMOVED FROM EACH OTHER.

THE PIC STATED THE REAR PASSENGERS WERE WEARING THEIR RESTRAINT SYSTEM AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. AS OF RIGHT NOW I CONSIDER THIS MATTER CLOSED UNLESS MORE INFORMATION OF VALUE BECOMES AVAILABLE.

## 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 WPR22LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA031), Oct 28, 2021: Bell 206L-3 (N27TK), Covelo, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A passenger’s unsecured object departed the cabin resulted in a collision with the tail rotor drive shaft.

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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