# NTSB CHI05CA156: Bell 206L-3, N311JX, Algonac, MI, June 24, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 24, 2005, 15:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Algonac, MI - Coordinates: 42.625556, -82.534446 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6256&lon=-82.5344&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 4 minor - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Detroit, MI, FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61832 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI05CA156 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61832/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05CA156 ## Probable cause The pilot not maintaining helicopter control, the loss of tail rotor effectiveness he encountered, and his not maintaining clearance from objects during the approach. Factor were the low altitude, the transmission lines, and the garage. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - weather condition - temperature,high - loss of tail rotor effectiveness - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - altitude - low (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - object - building(nonresidential) (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The helicopter sustained substantial damage on impact with power lines, a garage, and terrain during an approach to land at a field. The pilot's accident report stated, "After we came out of the turn approximately the area of [buildings], we experienced a definite loss of tail rotor effectiveness. The helicopter rotated to the right. I immediately went with forward cyclic and lowered the collective. After 1-2 turns and losing altitude I could see this correction would not take hold before hitting the 2 story home right below us. At this point my focus went to avoid this home and try to get us to the area of the field across the street. I raised the collective causing further rotation but slowing our descent rate. While maneuvering the helicopter to the open area we struck powerlines and fell nearly vertically on the helicopter's forward and left side on a driveway between a garage and the street." ## Factual narrative On June 24, 2005, about 1520 eastern daylight time, a Bell 206L-3 helicopter, N311JX, piloted by an airline transport pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with power lines, a garage, and terrain during an approach to land at a field near Algonac, Michigan. The personal 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 pilot and three passengers sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from the Oakland County International Airport, near Pontiac, Michigan, about 1430. The pilot's accident report, in part, stated: While proceeding down the river ... [approximately 200 to 300 feet above ground level] we turned 90 [degrees] to make a downwind entry for our approach. Last view of airspeed indicator was between 60-50 knots. Our bank of turn was [approximately] 15 [degrees]. After we came out of the turn approximately the area of [buildings], we experienced a definite loss of tail rotor effectiveness. The helicopter rotated to the right. I immediately went with forward cyclic and lowered the collective. After 1-2 turns and losing altitude I could see this correction would not take hold before hitting the 2 story home right below us. At this point my focus went to avoid this home and try to get us to the area of the field across the street. I raised the collective causing further rotation but slowing our descent rate. While maneuvering the helicopter to the open area we struck powerlines and fell nearly vertically on the helicopter's forward and left side on a driveway between a garage and the street. The pilot did not list any mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter in reference to the flight. At 1553, the recorded weather at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport, near Detroit, Michigan, located about 21 nautical miles and 225 degrees from the accident site, was: Wind 170 degrees at 9 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition few clouds 5,500 feet; temperature 33 degrees C; dew point 19 degrees C; altimeter 29.99 inches of mercury. The pilot's safety recommendation was, "Loss of tail rotor effectiveness can happen at more than [hover out of ground effect] and very low airspeeds - given the high [temperatures i.e. 95 degrees]." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N311JX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N311JX-2005-08-18), registration cancelled 2005-08-18, S/N 51251, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 206L-3 - Registry model: [Bell 206L-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l-3) (registry code 1182108) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C30 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c30-series) (registry code 03015, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 51251 - Airframe hours: 1028.5 - Engines: Allison 250-C30P 435 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Act Two Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2004, 41.5 hours before - Departed: PTK, PONTIAC, MI - Destination: Algonac, MI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2005; seat: right; flight hours: 13,674 total, 250 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: DET, 21 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 20050624024139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050624024139A), Jun 24, 2005: Bell 206L3, Algonac, MI, Destroyed. (-23) The pilot stated that he was on a sight seeing flight when he caught a gust of wind. The aircraft started to spin and impacted a power line which caused… 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.