# NTSB CEN22LA219: Bell 206B, N27574, Cameron, TX, May 31, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 31, 2022, 21:16 UTC - Place: Cameron, TX - Coordinates: 30.879003, -96.972212 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8790&lon=-96.9722&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Houston FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 105168 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA219 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105168/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105168 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA219 ## Probable cause The flight crew not maintaining lateral control of the helicopter during hovering operation which resulted in a dynamic rollover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) ## Analysis The operator reported that the flight instructor was working with a student on hovering the helicopter. The operator reported that the instructor used a method which transferred one control at a time to the student to familiarize the student with the use of that control and to not overwhelm the student by transferring all controls at once. The instructor first transferred pedal control, while maintaining cyclic and collective controls, with good success. He then did the same with the student commanding collective only, and then with cyclic only, while the instructor retained control of the other two controls. Ultimately the student was given control of cyclic and collective, and shortly thereafter the helicopter began to drift to the left. The instructor attempted to make a control input to correct the drift, but the helicopter rolled to the left and the rotor system of the helicopter impacted the ground, followed by the helicopter fuselage coming to rest on is left side. The helicopter received substantial damage to its fuselage and rotor system. The operator reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter prior to the accident that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N27574](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N27574), registered now, S/N 2562, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206B - Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 400HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (registry code 03013, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2562 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 20128 - Engines: Allison 250 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Utility Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Ranger Aviation Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 19, 2022 - Departed: GTU, Georgetown, TX - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: T35, Cameron Muni Airpark ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 24, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 3,103 total, 1,974 as pilot in command - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: minor; medical: unknown; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 4 total, 4 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 11 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KLHB, 18 nm away - METAR: METAR KLHB 311955Z AUTO 16011G17KT 10SM SCT055 SCT075 35/22 A2987 RMK AO2 T03450220= ## 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 20220531009229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220531009229A), May 31, 2022: Bell 206B, Cameron, TX, Destroyed. During training flight in stationationary hover aircraft control was moved to right causeing aircraft rotor to come in contact with the ground. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 22, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105168. 9.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14408691&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 5.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14408758&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf 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.