- Date
- September 25, 2014, 10:25 local (15:25 UTC)
- Place
- Nashoba, OK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N152CABell 206B
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 12, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- FAA report
- 20140925017839I
- Case key
- 90178
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of directional control due a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
After being refueled, the helicopter departed for an aerial application flight. As the helicopter lifted off, the pilot lost directional control of the helicopter and the nose of the helicopter turned right. The pilot confirmed that the throttle was open and after the helicopter turned 180 degrees, he reduced the engine's power to idle, maintained a level attitude, and touched down hard on uneven terrain. The tail rotor contacted a pile of debris resulting in substantial damage to the tail rotor. There were no reported malfunctions or failures which contributed to the accident. The helicopter was estimated to be about 66 pounds over the helicopter's maximum gross weight. In addition, the accident occurred in rugged terrain which likely resulted in an unexpected wind shift during the takeoff. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the helicopter's loss of tail rotor effectiveness and directional control.
Factual narrative
After being refueled, the helicopter departed for an aerial application flight. As the helicopter lifted off, the pilot lost directional control of the helicopter and the nose of the helicopter turned right. The pilot confirmed that the throttle was open and after the helicopter turned 180 degrees, he reduced the engine's power to idle, maintained a level attitude, and touched down hard on uneven terrain. The tail rotor contacted a pile of debris resulting in substantial damage to the tail rotor. There were no reported malfunctions or failures which contributed to the accident. The helicopter was estimated to be about 66 pounds over the helicopter's maximum gross weight. In addition, the accident occurred in rugged terrain which likely resulted in an unexpected wind shift during the takeoff. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the helicopter's loss of tail rotor effectiveness and directional control.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N152CA
- Reported as
- Bell 206B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2342
- Built
- 1978
- Airframe hours
- 18,189.6
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20B, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Chem Air Inc
- Registered owner
- Chem Air Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 20, 2014 · 96 hours before
- Departed
- Nashoba, OK
- Destination
- Nashoba, OK
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 67
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 28, 2014
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 27,000 total · 14,000 in this make and model · 25,750 as pilot in command · 275 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.23 inHg
- Observed at
- KMLC, 37 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 29, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.5 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.