# NTSB ATL93LA083: Bell 206B, N96DM, Myrtle Beach, SC, April 27, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 27, 1993, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Myrtle Beach, SC
- Coordinates: 33.689121, -78.88993 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6891&lon=-78.8899&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 19, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8739
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL93LA083
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8739/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL93LA083

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS DURING THE APPROACH AND LANDING. FACTORS WERE THE GUSTS, TURBULENCE, AND TAILWIND CONDITIONS AT THE LANDING SITE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence,clear air (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE COMMERCIAL PILOT HAD COMPLETED A REVENUE FLIGHT WITH 3 PASSENGERS, AND WAS MAKING AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD, AND STRUCTURAL DAMAGE RESULTED. THE PILOT LATER REPORTED TO AN FAA INSPECTOR THAT HE HAD ATTEMPTED A STEEP APPROACH IN A TAILWIND CONDITION, RESULTING IN INSUFFICIENT POWER AVAILABLE TO ARREST THE SINK RATE. THE PILOT REPORTED THE SURFACE WINDS TO BE 6 TO 18 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS TO 27 KNOTS, AND SEVERE TURBULENCE. HE RECEIVED WEATHER INFO FROM DUATS AND ATIS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, AND REPORTED THAT A FAST MOVING COLD FRONT HAD PASSED JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N96DM (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2816
- Airframe hours: 3332
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 417 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Donald E. Mullis, doing business as Helicopters Of Charleston
- Registered owner: Park Leasing Company
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 27, 1993, 19 hours before
- Departed: CRE, N. MYRTLE BEACH, SC
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 3,105 total, 805 in this make and model, 2,950 as pilot in command, 117 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 11 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MYR, 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 19930427010969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930427010969A), Apr 27, 1993: Bell 206B, Myrtle Beach, SC, Substantial damage. Ran out of collective due downwind landing approach low rotor RPM and high sink rate. Impact chopped tailboom.

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.