# Accident 20241027014559A: Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, Canal Wincheste, OH, October 27, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 27, 2024, 14:30 local time
- Place: Canal Wincheste, OH
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: EVCA
- Location: 39.8667° N, 82.8000° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8667&lon=-82.8000&mi=10
- Aircraft: N54AE, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N54AE) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 (registry code 1182107, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 SER 250HP (registry code 03002, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON 206L-1
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250 SER 250HP
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 6,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA25LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA027) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241027014559A

## Narrative

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

THIS OFFICE RECEIVED AND ASSIGNED AIRCRAFT INCIDENT PRELIMINARY NOTICE (8020-9) REPORTED BIRD STRIKE. AIRCRAFT    BELL  206L-1 S/N. 3 POB.  NO INJURIES.

UPON ARRIVING AT SIGHT IN CANAL WINCHESTER, OH INSPECTOR IN CHARGE (IICC) OBTAINED PILOT DOCUMENTATION, STATEMENT, PHOTOS, AIRCRAFT DOCUMENTATION, FLIGHT LOG AND CURRENT MAINTENANCE RECORDS. PILOT STATED 10NM SE OF KCMH AFTER DEPARTING MEDICAL CENTER ENROUTE TO BASE IN LANCASTER, OH AT 1430 LCL AT 2500 FT IN CRUISING A BIRD HIT THE AIRCRAFT AT 12 0'CLOCK AND PILOT COULD NOT AVOID IMPACT. A SEVERE VIBRATION OCCURRED AFTER IMPACT, AND THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD. (PRECAUTIONARY LANDING.) THE PILOT, NURSE AND MEDIC EXITED THE AIRCRAFT (NO INJURIES), AND THE PILOT DID A WALK AROUND AND NOTICED A BEND IN ONE OF THE MAIN ROTOR PITCH CHANGE LINKS AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT.

## 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 ERA25LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA027), Oct 27, 2024: Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 (N54AE), Canal Winchester, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: An in-flight collision with a bird while in cruise flight.

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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