# NTSB CEN24LA172: Bell 206B, N67183, Baton Rouge, LA, March 26, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 26, 2024, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Baton Rouge, LA - Coordinates: 30.533, -91.1524 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5330&lon=-91.1524&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 194182 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA172 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194182/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194182 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA172 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of control during takeoff that resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (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: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The helicopter was positioned on a trailer when the pilot initiated a takeoff from the trailer. The pilot reported that the helicopter began a yaw to the right upon liftoff. He attempted to correct the yaw, but the helicopter continued to yaw. The pilot managed to regain some control and made a hard landing. The pilot’s supervisor was in his office near the trailer when he heard rapid tone changes in the rotor noise. He ran outside and saw the helicopter settle to the ground. He glanced at the helicopter, and it appeared undamaged. While the helicopter was still running, he climbed into the co-pilot side of the helicopter and performed a functional check. All controls functioned properly, and the gauges indicated normal. He then repositioned the helicopter back onto the trailer without incident. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions/failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N67183](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N67183), registered now, S/N 5120, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206B - Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C20J](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20j) (registry code 54181, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 5120 - Year built: 1993 - Engines: Rolls Royce M250-C20J 800 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft - state, Part 91 - Operator: State Of Louisiana - Registered owner: State Of Louisiana - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 23, 2023, 11,113 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: BTR, Baton Rouge Metro Airport - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 23, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,548 total, 78 in this make and model, 1,348 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KBTR - METAR: KBTR 261753Z 03005KT 10SM 095 FEW 22/13 A2987 ## 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 20240326004459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240326004459A), Mar 26, 2024: Bell 206B, Baton Rouge, LA, Substantial damage. Accident on 3/26/2024 approx 1330 Pilot relevant flight time: Total helicopter time: 219.5 hrs. Turbine time: 118 hrs. Make and model: 79 hrs. Solo make and… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 12, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194182. 4.3 MB in all. - NTSB form 6120 pilot operator report CEN24LA172 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17566273&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Pilot%20Operator%20Report%20CEN24LA172_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statement CEN24LA172 (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 257 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17566883&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20CEN24LA172_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photos CEN24LA172 (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 286 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17567079&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos%20CEN24LA172-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.