# Accident 20231223021029A: Bell 206B, El Centro, CA, December 23, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 23, 2023, 06:30 local time
- Place: El Centro, CA
- Airport: Imperial
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: RBKG
- Location: 32.9406° N, 115.3187° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9406&lon=-115.3187&mi=10
- Aircraft: N111PM, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N111PM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206B (registry code 1181511, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20J (registry code 54181, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20j) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C20J
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 8,119 total, 7,442 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA067) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231223021029A

## Narrative

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

ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATING UNDER 14 CFR PART 137 PROCEDING SOUTHWEST FROM THE REFUELING/CHEMICAL UPLOAD TRUCK AT 100 FEET AGL. AIRCRAFT DEMONSTRATED SUDDEN VIBRATION AND LOUD NOISES. PILOT RELATED UNCERTAINTY OF MAINTAINING ROTOR RPM. SUBSEQUENT AUTOROTATION AND UNPLANNED LANDING WERE EXECUTED AT 32.94059N 115.31871W IN AN ALFALFA FIELD.

ASI OBSERVED ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ UPRIGHT, IN A NORMAL ATTITUDE, AND APPEARED UNDAMAGED ON ARRIVAL. ASI FOUND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF GRANULAR FOD AS WELL AS SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF 'SAND SIZED'METAL SHAVINGS ON THE FLOOR OF ENGINE & TRANSMISSION COMPARTMENTS. FURTHER OBSERVATION REVEALED THE 'K FLEX COUPLING APPEARED TO BE FRACTURED/BROKEN AND ADJACENT ISOLATOR MOUNT UPPER METAL SURFACE GROOVED THROUGH INTO THE INTERNAL RUBBER MEDIUM.

## 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 WPR24LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA067), Dec 24, 2023: Bell 206B (N111PM), El Centro, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: An in-flight failure of the engine-to-transmission driveshaft due to a fatigue fracture of the forward-most flex plate in the forward KAflex coupling that resulted from a loose bolt attachment…

## Other reports on N111PM (2)

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

- [Incident 19990911028139I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990911028139I), Sep 11, 1999: Bell 206B (N111PM), Boomer, WV, Minor damage. (-23) IEA09199900014 --- on September 11, 1999 the pilot was making her normal rounds providing transportation for the pittston coal personnel. These flights…
- [Accident 19960426009119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960426009119A), Apr 26, 1996: Bell 206B (N111PM), Logan, WV, Substantial damage. No narrative available

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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