CHI01LA327

The helicopter sustained substantial damage on impact with water while maneuvering over a glassy lake. The pilot stated, "Potato Lake selected for low altitude water/shoreline footage. Did high recon, no observed boat traffic in conflict with flight path over water at approx 40 to 50 ft. Commenced with descent profile of 80 mph and 600 [feet per minute]. The descent was to continue until treetop level then terminate descent and cruise over water for length of lake. Flight path was south to north with planned airspeed of 60 - 80 mph, then climb out. Reached target altitude confirmed with left and right shoreline sight picture, raised collective pitch with [simultaneous] forward cyclic pressure to commence over water cruise. Engine appeared non-responsive to power demand. Descent was not arrested. Added additional collective, no response to power demand. Leveled aircraft and impacted water with forward velocity." The front left seat passenger stated, "The pilot did not give us any pre-flight safety briefing or instructions. The pilot did not demonstrate or explain how to use the seat belts or how to egress from the helicopter in case of an emergency. ... Shortly after takeoff, I noticed were flying very low over the lake. Suddenly the helicopter abruptly dove down nose first crashing into the lake. The helicopter quickly began to sink into the water. ... I could not unbuckle the safety harness strap. My clothing was getting very heavy and I began to swallow water uncontrollably. I thought I was going to die. I continued to unsuccessfully struggle with the safety harness. Finally, somehow, I was able to wiggle out of the buckled safety harness." Wind was calm, sky condition clear, and the temperature was 20 degrees C. An on-scene investigation of the recovered wreckage revealed no pre-impact anomalies. A study of an on-board video revealed sounds consistent with the gas producer section of the engine and the main rotor system. Both rear passengers were not wearing their seat belts.

History of flight

On September 27, 2001, about 1230 central daylight time, a Bell 206B-III, N56MC, operated by EAC Helicopters, Inc., sustained substantial damage on impact with water while maneuvering over Potato Lake, near Park Rapids, Minnesota. The pilot reported that the business flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The commercial pilot reported that he and three passengers sustained minor injuries. No flight plan was on file. The local aerial photography flight departed from Park Rapids Municipal Airport (PKD), Park Rapids, Minnesota, at 1220 and was maneuvering at the time of the accident.

The pilot stated:

Departed Park Rapids enroute to Lake Itasca (20 mi. north). Potato

Lake selected for low altitude water/shoreline footage. Did high

recon, no observed boat traffic in conflict with flight path over water

at approx 40 to 50 ft. Commenced with descent profile of 80 mph

and 600 [feet per minute]. The descent was to continue until treetop

level then terminate descent and cruise over water for length of lake.

Flight path was south to north with planned airspeed of 60 - 80 mph,

then climb out.

Reached target altitude confirmed with left and right shoreline sight

picture, raised collective pitch with [simultaneous] forward cyclic

pressure to commence over water cruise. Engine appeared

non-responsive to power demand. Descent was not arrested. Added

additional collective, no response to power demand. Leveled

aircraft and impacted water with forward velocity.

The passenger in the front left seat stated:

We discussed the film project and the flight itinerary with the pilot

prior to takeoff. During this pre-flight meeting, I informed the pilot

that we wanted to film the headwaters. The pilot did not give us any

pre-flight safety briefing or instructions. The pilot did not

demonstrate or explain how to use the seat belts or how to egress

from the helicopter in case of an emergency.

After boarding, I sat next to the pilot and my two co-workers sat in

the back of the helicopter. Shortly after takeoff, I noticed we were

flying very low over the lake. Suddenly the helicopter abruptly dove

down nose first crashing into the lake. The helicopter quickly began

to sink into the water. For some time, I lost consciousness and

when I awoke, I was descending further down into the water. I began

to struggle to unsnap my seatbelt. At that point I realized I was

trapped to my seat sinking and that my seat had broken off from the

plane. I could not unbuckle the safety harness strap. My clothing

was getting very heavy and I began to swallow water uncontrollably.

I thought I was going to die.

I continued to unsuccessfully struggle with the safety harness. Finally,

somehow, I was able to wiggle out of the buckled safety harness.

Once free from the seat, I was so deep into the water that I could not

tell which way was up to the surface. I began to just swim, not

knowing which direction to go in. Eventually, I emerged at the lake's

surface.

I was the last one to reach the surface. When I emerged I saw my two

co-workers helping the pilot to stay afloat.

The right rear passenger stated:

While I was riding in the helicopter, I did not wear seat belt since I

was shooting with video camera.

The flight began, and after about 10 minutes the helicopter suddenly

began to lose altitude over Potato Lake. Since the helicopter did not

exhibit any other unusual signs such as an abnormal noise or smoke,

and was not falling in a way that suggested it was going to crash, I

believed that it was probably falling due to operation by the pilot. In

the past, I occasionally have had experiences where a pilot will fly

lower to show off for us, and on this occasion as well I believed that

the pilot was demonstrating to us his flying skill. Since I had not told

him that we planned to shoot lakes on the way from a low altitude or

anything like that, I thought that perhaps we might have arrived

already at Lake Itasca, and after exchanging glances with [the left

rear passenger], I turned to the intercom and was about to ask, 'Have

we arrived at Lake Itasca?' At that moment, the helicopter fell into

the lake.

The left rear passenger stated:

The helicopter took off at noon. At first I had my seat belt on. Five

to 10 minutes after take off we could see the lake as a dot right in

front of us, and [the front seat passenger] began to film this using a

video camera. I took off my seatbelt so that I could take the

photographs to be used for the show, and began taking photographs

with my camera. From the time the helicopter took off to the time it

crashed there was not conversation between the people inside.

After a few minutes, I could see a large lake right in front of me. I

was viewing the lake through the finder on my camera and saw the

lake getting bigger and bigger, so I realized the helicopter was going

down. The helicopter was in no particular state of instability so I

thought the pilot was causing it to dive down by design.

Nonetheless, since Lake Itaska, the subject of filming, was supposed

to be farther away, I thought to myself, 'Why is the helicopter going

down here?' and I looked over at [the right rear passenger].

Immediately thereafter I heard the intercom switch being turned on

and then right after that I heard a 'bang!' and received a heavy jolt.

Personnel information

The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with a rating for rotorcraft/helicopter. He held a certified flight instructor certificate for rotorcraft/helicopter. He also held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. The pilot did not possess an instrument rating. The pilot stated that he had accumulated 3,032 hours of total flight experience, 2,992 hours of which were in rotorcraft. The pilot listed 538 hours of flight experience in this make and model of helicopter.

The pilot reported his most recent biennial flight review was completed in a Bell 206B-III on July 24, 2001.

The pilot's most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) second-class medical certificate was issued on September 26, 2001. The pilot reported that the medical had a limitation of "corrective lenses."

Aircraft information

The 206B-III helicopter, serial number 3573, was a single engine, two-bladed semi-rigid main rotor, five-seat aircraft, which was manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It was powered by an Allison 250-C20J, serial number CAE-270014, turbo shaft, reverse flow engine, that had a maximum sea level rating of 420 horsepower. The pilot reported that the airframe had 3,182.2 hours of total flight time and that the engine had accumulated 1,444 hours since its last overhaul. The pilot stated that the last inspection the helicopter received was a 100-hour inspection on July 23, 2001. The pilot reported that the helicopter accumulated 12 hours of flight time since that inspection.

Meteorological information

At 1253, the PKD weather was: Wind calm, visibility 10 statute miles, sky condition clear; temperature 20 degrees C; dew point 4 degrees C; altimeter 30.17 inches of mercury. At 1253, the calculated density altitude at PKD was 2,067 feet.

Wreckage and impact information

The recovered helicopter wreckage was stored at PKD. Front cabin components to include the collective, console, and the cyclic stick were not recovered. The NTSB examined the recovered wreckage at PKD on November 5, 2003. The tailcone was separated from the aft fuselage. Control push-pull tubes were traced from the rotor pedals to the tail rotor. All separations in the control tubing were consistent with overload. The cyclic and collective p