# Accident 20220617006419A: Bell 206B, Stockton, CA, June 17, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 17, 2022, 06:00 local time
- Place: Stockton, CA
- Airport: Stockton Metro
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: LWZG
- Location: 37.9089° N, 121.3739° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9089&lon=-121.3739&mi=10
- Aircraft: N90326, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90326-2024-12-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206B (registry code 1181511, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 SER 400HP (registry code 03013, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250 SER 400HP
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 30,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR22LA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA221) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220617006419A

## Narrative

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

AGRICULTURAL HELO (NO CHEMICALS) CRASHED.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS:

HELICOPTER RESTING ON L/H SIDE IN ALMOND TREE ORCHARD. HELICOPTER IS INTACT OTHER THAN A MISSING SECTION OF ONE THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES.

THE RESTING HELICOPTER IS POINTING ON A HEADING OF 120 SE. LANDING GEAR APPEARS TO BE INTACT WITH NO SIGNS OF A HARD LANDING UNDER THE FUSELAGE STRUCTURE AND LANDING GEAR ATTACHMENTS. TAIL BOOM, VERTICAL STABILIZER AND HORIZONTAL STABILIZER SHOW SIGNS OF ROLL OVER DAMAGE.

NOTE: BOTTOM VERTICAL STABILIZER SHOWS SIGNS ON TRAILING EDGE DAMAGE POSSIBLY FROM TAIL ROTOR BLADE.

AIRCRAFT CABIN HAS SEVERE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE FROM THE ROLL OVER ON THE LEFT HAND FRONT DOOR PILLAR. ALL CONTROLS CYCLIC, COLLECTIVE AND TAIL ROTOR CONTROLS INTACT.

AIRCRAFT MAIN TRANSMISSION MOUNT/RESTRAINT SYSTEM ON THE TOP DECK SHOWS SEVERE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE FROM THE SUDDEN STOPPAGE OF MAIN ROTOR BLADES ON ROLL OVER.

THE MAIN ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT COUPLING AT FORWARD TRANSMISSION ATTACHMENT HAS DISINTEGRATED FROM THE SUDDEN STOPPAGE OF MAIN ROTOR TRANSMISSION.

BOTH MAIN ROTOR BLADES SHOW SEVERE DAMAGE DUE TO IMPACT, SUDDEN STOPPAGE WITH GROUND UPON ROLL OVER.

ENGINE CONTROLS IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT  ARE STILL ATTACHED AND SAFETIED.

SEGMENTED TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT FROM ENGINE GEARBOX BACK TO TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX IS INTACT BUT IS NOT ENGAGED AT TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX SPLINED ADAPTER.  TAIL ROTOR WAS FOUND FREE TO ROTATE.

TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX WAS FOUND FREE FROM ITS MOUNT TO THE TAIL BOOM WITH ALL FOUR MOUNTING STUDS HAVING BEEN SHEARED OFF. THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX MOUNTING SHIMS FOUND SCATTERED ON GROUND APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET BEHIND TAIL ROTOR MOUNT.

TAIL ROTOR CONTROL BELLCRANKS/ROD ENDS AT GEARBOX HAVE SHEARED OFF.

TAIL ROTOR HUB AND BLADE ASSEMBLY IS STILL ATTACHED TO THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX.

ONE TAIL ROTOR BLADE IS SEVERELY DAMAGED BUT SHOWS LITTLE DAMAGE FROM ROLLOVER/GROUND IMPACT.

OVER 80% OF THE OTHER TAIL ROTOR BLADE IS MISSING FROM THE ASSEMBLY. THE REMAINING PART IS STILL BOLTED TO TAIL ROTOR HUB.

THE INSIDE OF THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX TOP COWLING SHOWS SIGNS OF CONTACT WITH TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX.

NOTE: THE MISSING TAIL BLADE SECTION WAS FOUND BY PILOT^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THE NEXT DAY 2000? FEET TO THE NORTH OF HELICOPTER IN THE ALMOND TREE ORCHARD.

## 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 WPR22LA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA221), Jun 17, 2022: Bell 206B (N90326), Stockton, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Tail rotor blade impact with an unidentified object, which resulted in the loss of control and subsequent rollover of the helicopter.

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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