# NTSB CHI07CA181: Bell 206B, N96ND, Grand Forks, ND, June 26, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 26, 2007, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Grand Forks, ND - Coordinates: 47.949165, -97.176109 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9492&lon=-97.1761&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 66138 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07CA181 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66138/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA181 ## Probable cause The certified flight instructor's inadequate compensation for the gusting wind conditions and failure to maintain control of the helicopter during a hover for takeoff. A factor contributing to the accident was the gusting wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - terrain condition - grass - Roll over, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - grass ## Analysis The student pilot hover taxied the helicopter from the ramp to a sod area, where he landed the helicopter. The CFI then took the controls. The CFI reported that when the helicopter lifted off the ground, a gust of wind pitched the nose up and the helicopter drifted rearward. The right side skid caught the ground and the helicopter subsequently rolled on its side, causing damage to both the main and tail rotor blades, the cabin, and the landing gear skids. An examination of the helicopter revealed no pre-impact anomalies. Wind conditions reported near the time of the accident were: Wind 270 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 22 knots. ## Factual narrative The helicopter was destroyed when it impacted terrain and rolled over during takeoff hover. The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that the helicopter startup and runup was uneventful. The student pilot hover taxied the helicopter from the ramp to a sod area near Bravo taxiway. The student landed the helicopter and the CFI took over the controls so that the student could put on his view limiting device to prepare for the instrument flight. The CFI stated that when the helicopter lifted off the ground, a gust of wind pitched the nose up and the helicopter drifted rearward. The right side skid caught the ground and the helicopter subsequently rolled on its side, causing damage to both the main and tail rotor blades, the cabin, and the landing gear skids. An examination of the helicopter revealed no pre-impact anomalies. Wind conditions reported near the time of the accident were: Wind 270 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 22 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N96ND](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N96ND-2013-03-07), registration cancelled 2013-03-07, S/N 4400, built 1996 (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: 4400 - Airframe hours: 2250 - Engines: Rolls-Royce 250-C20J 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: University of North Dakota - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 1, 2007 - Departed: GFK, GRAND FORKS, ND - Airport: GFK, Grand Forks Intl ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 60; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 9,000 total, 920 in this make and model, 8,400 as pilot in command, 101 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 38; injuries: none; private; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: rear; flight hours: 148 total, 41 in this make and model, 71 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 15 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KGFK ## 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 20070626020509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070626020509A), Jun 26, 2007: Bell 206B, Grand Forks, ND, Substantial damage. (-23) During a dual training flight the cfi/pic had taken control of the helicopter while the student was donning the IFR hood. During a low hover the aircraft… 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.