# NTSB ATL83LA294: Bell 206B, N5733M, Nr Gatlinburg, TN, July 26, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 26, 1983, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: Nr Gatlinburg, TN
- Coordinates: 35.719123, -83.489974 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7191&lon=-83.4900&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6140
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83LA294
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6140/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83LA294

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - tie down - improper (cause)
  - rotor system,main rotor blade - foreign object damage (contributing factor)
  - rotor system - movement restricted (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS BEGINNING HIS APCH TO A LANDING SITE AT AN ELEVATION OF 5200 FT WHEN HE FELT A BUMP IN THE TAIL ROTOR PEDALS. THE HELICOPTER BEGUN TO SPIN TO THE RIGHT & THE PLT FOUND HE HAS NO TAIL ROTOR CONTROL. AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING WAS MADE INTO THE TREETOPS WHICH HE ESTIMATED TO BE 125 FT ABOVE THE MOUNTAIN TERRAIN. REPORTEDLY, THE MAIN ROTOR MAST SEPARATED AFTER CONTACTING THE TREES & THE HELICOPTER ROLLED INVERTED & STRUCK THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. A SMALL POSTCRASH FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY A PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM THE HELICOPTER. BEFORE CRASHING, THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED ON AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT IT WAS CARRYING A 30 GAL BUCKET THAT HAD BEEN LOOSELY FILLED WITH FABIC STRAP. WITNESSES REPORTED THE ACFT WAS DESCEND AT APRX 40 KTS WHEN THEY OBSERVED 1 OR MORE OF THE STRAPS TRAILING FROM THE BUCKET. SUBSEQUENTLY, A STRAP BECOME ENTANGLED IN THE TAIL ROTOR & IT WAS OBSERVED TO HAVE STOPPED ROTATING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5733M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5733M-1988-08-19), registration cancelled 1988-08-19, S/N 2992 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2992
- Airframe hours: 2350
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 400 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Other work use, Part 133
- Registered owner: Vertiflite Air Services
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed: MT. LECONTE, TN
- Destination: INDIAN GAP, TN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 8,000 total, 6,950 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TYS, 28 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830726038139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830726038139A), Jul 26, 1983: Bell 206B, Gatlinburg, TN, Destroyed. Support straps carried in open sling load bucket blew into tail rotor during descent for landing. Lost tail control

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.