- Date
- July 31, 2007, 13:05 local (18:05 UTC)
- Place
- Columbia, MO
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9ZVBell 206B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 30, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20070731016839A
- Case key
- 66412
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter, which resulted in impact with terrain during takeoff. A factor in the accident was the tall grass.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The helicopter was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during takeoff. The pilot stated that the helicopter was to be loaded with one passenger in the left seat and a 167 lb part behind the pilot. The part was loaded onto the helicopter and the pilot was then informed that the passenger would not be riding in the helicopter. Because of a "time deadline," the pilot decided to fly the helicopter from the left seat instead of the right in order to "have a good lateral C.G." During takeoff, the pilot reported that the helicopter started "sinking toward the ground" and that he was "over controlling the cyclic." The helicopter's skids came in contact with tall grass and tipped "very far forward." The pilot tried to level the helicopter with the cyclic, the tail "fell rapidly," and the helicopter subsequently impacted terrain and rolled over on its right side. The pilot stated in his accident report that the accident could have been prevented had he taken the time to get help to move the load to the co-pilot's side. He reported that it would have solved his lateral C.G. problem and he would be flying the helicopter from his normal position.
Factual narrative
The helicopter was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during takeoff. The pilot stated that the helicopter was to be loaded with one passenger in the left seat and a 167 lb part behind the pilot. The part was loaded onto the helicopter and the pilot was then informed that the passenger would not be riding in the helicopter. Because of a "time deadline," the pilot decided to fly the helicopter from the left seat instead of the right in order to "have a good lateral C.G." During takeoff, the pilot reported that the helicopter started "sinking toward the ground" and that he was "over controlling the cyclic." The helicopter's skids came in contact with tall grass and tipped "very far forward." The pilot tried to level the helicopter with the cyclic, the tail "fell rapidly," and the helicopter subsequently impacted terrain and rolled over on its right side.
The pilot stated in his accident report that the accident could have been prevented had he taken the time to get help to move the load to the co-pilot's side. He reported that it would have solved his lateral C.G. problem and he would be flying the helicopter from his normal position.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9ZV
- Reported as
- Bell 206B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 3793
- Airframe hours
- 2,897.2
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20J, 317 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive/Corporate · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Triple S Hauling Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 1, 2006
- Departed
- PVT · Columbia, MO
- Destination
- Springfield, MO
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 1, 2006
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 17,687 total · 3,287 in this make and model · 17,121 as pilot in command · 73 in the last 90 days · 51 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 70° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.06 inHg
- Observed at
- COU, 12 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.