- Date
- July 9, 2021, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- Berlin, IL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N170AMBell 206L-3
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-hover: Dynamic rollover
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20210709009039A
- Case key
- 103916
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 failure to maintain control of the helicopter with a stuck skid, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
Findings · 2
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
The pilot reported that while landing the helicopter on a loading truck, he felt the skids settle and spread. After a few seconds, the helicopter began to slide off the truck. He increased collective in an attempt to move forward away from the truck, but thought that the skid was stuck. The pilot was able to dislodge the skid but the helicopter rolled onto its left side, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N170AM
- Reported as
- Bell 206L-3 (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 51036
- Built
- 1982
- Airframe hours
- 12,492.7
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20B, 650 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- The Heli Team
- Registered owner
- Premier Rotors LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 3, 2021
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Airport
- n/a
- Equipment
- ADS-B
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
- 35
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 20, 2021
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 5,500 total · 550 in this make and model · 5,000 as pilot in command · 250 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 14, 2021, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.0 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.