# NTSB ATL87FA009: Bell 206B III, N2204Z, Nashville, TN, October 20, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 20, 1986, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Nashville, TN
- Location: 36.1194° N, 86.7675° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from NASHVILLE INTL (BNA), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1194&lon=-86.7675&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7262
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87FA009
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7262/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87FA009

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, descent - normal
  - turboshaft engine,gas generator turbine shaft - failure,total
  - maintenance,installation - improper, other person (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command
  - overconfidence in aircraft's ability, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS IN A DESCENT TOWARD A BUILDING IN A DOWNTOWN AREA WHICH HE WANTED AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF. AT ABOUT 1700 FT AGL HE REPORTED THE HELICOPTER JERKED HARD AND YAWED TO THE LEFT. HE INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION AND DURING THE DESCENT TO THE SELECTED LANDING SITE HE HAD TO BLEED OFF ROTOR RPM TO CLEAR WIRES ACROSS THE APCH PATH. A HARD LANDING RESULTED IN A STREET INTERSECTION. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THE SPUR ADAPTER GEARSHAFT FORWARD SPLINES WERE SEVERELY WORN. THE FORWARD END OF THE GEARSHAFT WAS FRACTURED. THE FRACTURE HAD ORIGINATED FROM THE SHAFT SPLINE TEETH. THE OIL DELIVERY TUBE FOR THE FORWARD SPLINE LUBRICATION DID NOT MEET REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED BY THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2204Z (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B III
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 3516
- Airframe hours: 2395
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Nelson C. Andrews
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 19, 1986, 57 hours before
- Departed: JWN, NASHVILLE, TN
- Airport: BNA, Nashville Metropolitan

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; airline transport, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,453 total, 793 in this make and model, 1,326 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BNA, 5 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 19861020049549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861020049549A), Oct 20, 1986: Bell 206B, Nashville, TN, Substantial damage. The engine lost power. The helicopter made a hard landing. The spur gear was worn due to a bad oil delivery tube.

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.

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