# NTSB CHI03LA062: Bell 206L-1, N27AE, West Plains, MO, January 31, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 31, 2003, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: West Plains, MO - Coordinates: 36.878334, -91.903335 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8783&lon=-91.9033&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - St. Louis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56449 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56449/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56449 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA062 ## Probable cause The excessive descent rate that required an abrupt flare, resulting in the main rotor severing the tailboom. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - autorotation - simulated, check pilot - descent - misjudged, check pilot (cause) - flare - abrupt, check pilot (cause) - misc rotorcraft,tail boom - cut/severed (cause) ## Analysis At the completion of a simulated autorotation maneuver the main rotor severed the tailboom. The check airman reported that at approximately 20 feet above ground level he "determined the sink rate was excessive" and he decided to perform a "power recovery." The check airman stated, "I repositioned my hand, started opening the throttle while leveling the aircraft and applying a cushioning pitch pull." The helicopter impacted off the left side of the runway with "the skids aligned with the direction of travel slightly aft skid low." The check airman reported, "The aircraft rocked up onto the toes of the skids and I increased collective pitch and applied aft cyclic, when I did the main rotor impacted the tailboom severing it." ## Factual narrative On January 31, 2003, at 1230 central standard time, a Bell 206L-1 helicopter, N27AE, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when the main rotor severed the tailboom during an intentional autorotation at the West Plains Municipal Airport (UNO), West Plains, Missouri. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 on a company flight plan. The check airman and dual student reported no injuries. The flight departed UNO at 1215 for the local area flight. The helicopter operator was Air Evac EMS Inc., an on-demand air ambulance service. According to a written statement provided by the company check airman, he was demonstrating an autorotation maneuver to the dual student when the accident occurred. The check airman stated: "Entered the autorotation, slowed to 60 [knots], rotor was in the green, gas producer stable and aircraft in trim." The check airman reported that at approximately 20 feet agl he "determined the sink rate was excessive" and he decided to perform a "power recovery." The check airman reported that his grip on the throttle did not allow an adjustment of the throttle. The check airman reported, "I repositioned my hand, started opening the throttle while leveling the aircraft and applying a cushioning pitch pull." The helicopter impacted off the left side of the runway with "the skids aligned with the direction of travel slightly aft skid low." The check airman stated, "The aircraft rocked up onto the toes of the skids and I increased collective pitch and applied aft cyclic, when I did the main rotor impacted the tailboom severing it." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N27AE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N27AE), registered now, S/N 45192, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 206L-1 - Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (registry code 1182107) (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: 45192 - Airframe hours: 22440 - Engines: Rolls-Royce 250-C28B 550 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Air Evac EMS, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, January 27, 2003, 16.9 hours before - Departed: UNO, West Plains, MO - Destination: UNO, West Plains, MO - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: UNO, West Plains Municipal Airport, runway 180, 5,102 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Check pilot; age 43; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 12, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 3,850 total, 2,300 in this make and model, 3,550 as pilot in command - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 31, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 3,566 total, 950 in this make and model, 2,580 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 10 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,900 ft overcast - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: UNO ## 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 20030131001299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030131001299A), Jan 31, 2003: Bell 206L1, West Plains, MO, Substantial damage. (-23) Instructor pilot at the controls was demonstrating a simulated engine failure from altitude to another company pilot. At approximately 100 feet AGL,… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 5, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56449. 344 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 265 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40188158&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40188159&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Scene Diagram (item 3, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40188160&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Scene%20Diagram-Master.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.