# Accident 20240423009619A: Bell 206L-3, Tracy, CA, April 23, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 23, 2024, 09:55 local time
- Place: Tracy, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.0000° N, 121.0000° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0000&lon=-121.0000&mi=10
- Aircraft: N17592, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N17592) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206L-3 (registry code 1182108, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l-3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L-3
- Reported engine: ALLISON-ROLLS ROYCE 250-30P
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,789 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA134) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240423009619A

## Narrative

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

PHOTO OF THE COLLECTIVE PUSHROD SHOWS THE METAL ROD BROKE (ROD SNAPPED IN TWO).

THE HELICOPTER WAS FLYING LOW AND SLOW CONDUCTING PIPELINE PATROL.  THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE HELICOPTER STARTED TO DESCEND.  THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO INCREASE THE COLLECTIVE (PITCH) OF THE ROTOR BLADES TO INCREASE LIFT, BUT NO RESPONSE FROM THE INPUT, SO THE PILOT MOVED OVER TO A LANDING SPOT BETWEEN SOME TREES IN AN ORCHARD.  THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD ENOUGH TO SLIGHTLY BEND ONE OF THE LANDING SKIDS AND COLLAPSE THE TAIL BOOM.  PILOT AND LIDAR TECHNICIAN WERE NOT INJURED.

## 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 WPR24LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA134), Apr 23, 2024: Bell 206L-3 (N17592), Tracy, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of collective control authority due to fatigue failure of the collective servo cylinder extension arms from corrosion pitting.

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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