# NTSB CHI03LA319: Bell 206L-1, N74AE, Shoals, IN, September 21, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 20, 2003, 21:03 local (Sep 21, 2003, 02:03 UTC) - Place: Shoals, IN - Coordinates: 38.659656, -86.78923 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6597&lon=-86.7892&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57994 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA319 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57994/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA319 ## Probable cause The pilot not maintaining a proper descent rate during the touchdown once visual reference was reduced by the dust in the rotor downwash. Factors were the dusty gravel landing area and the pilot's visual lookout not being possible due to the dust the rotor downwash raised. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - visual lookout - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - loose gravel/sandy (contributing factor) - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The air medical helicopter sustained substantial damage during a hard landing in a gravel lot. The pilot stated, "At approximately 10 feet above the ground, while on approach, I noticed some dust blowing. ... At approximately five to seven feet above the ground, the dust situation compounded itself and I lost all visual reference. I held what I had on the controls and let the aircraft settle to the ground. The aircraft contacted the ground in a level attitude and slid approximately 5 feet forward. The aircraft landed slightly harder than normal." The pilot said, "At the time of landing, no damage was observed after inspection with flashlight. Damage was found after subsequent flight by another pilot." ## Factual narrative On September 20, 2003, about 2103 central daylight time, a Bell 206L-1 helicopter, N74AE, operated by Air Evac EMS, Inc., sustained substantial damage during a hard landing in a gravel lot near Shoals, Indiana. The air medical flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The commercial pilot, flight nurse, and flight medic were uninjured. The flight originated from Daviess County Airport, near Washington, Indiana, at 2044, and was landing at Shoals, Indiana at the time of the accident. The pilot stated: The landing area was a gravel parking lot. It was discovered later that the landing area was adjacent to a gypsum processing facility. At approximately 10 feet above the ground, while on approach, I noticed some dust blowing. This seemed normal for a gravel lot, so I continued the approach. At approximately five to seven feet above the ground, the dust situation compounded itself and I lost all visual reference. I held what I had on the controls and let the aircraft settle to the ground. The aircraft contacted the ground in a level attitude and slid approximately 5 feet forward. The aircraft landed slightly harder than normal. As a precaution, I shut the aircraft down to inspect for damage with a flashlight. No damage was found. I had the fire department hose down the area to control dust. The patient was transferred to Kosair Childrens in Louisville, KY. The aircraft was then repositioned to KJVY (Clark County, IN) for fuel and returned to base, all without incident. The pilot said that the left rear skid attachment point was pushed into the helicopter's skin. He said, "At the time of landing, no damage was observed after inspection with flashlight. Damage was found after subsequent flight by another pilot." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N74AE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N74AE-2018-10-01), registration cancelled 2018-10-01, S/N 45765, built 1983 (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-C28 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c28-series) (registry code 03022, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 45765 - Airframe hours: 19861.1 - Engines: Allison 250-C28B 650 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Air Evac Leasing Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, September 17, 2003, 11.4 hours before - Departed: DCY, WASHINGTON, IN - Destination: Shoals, IN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review January 21, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 3,080 total, 151 in this make and model, 2,170 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: BMG, 29 nm away ## 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 20030920023469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030920023469A), Sep 20, 2003: Bell 206L1, Shoals, IN, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 20, 2003, at 2338 EST, a Bell helicopter model 206-L1, N74AE, registered to air evac leasing corp. made a hard landing at a gypsum quarry… 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.