- Date
- September 19, 1989, 13:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place
- Chicago, IL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N9229XBell 206B-3
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 26, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890919037589A
- Case key
- 14421
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
A hard landing caused by the pilot not being able to judge his altitude above or his closure rate to terrain because of high vegetation in the area available for a forced landing. An engine faulure caused by material failure of the compressor section is a contributing cause of the accident.
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 accident helicopter experienced an engine failure and autorotated to an open field in an urban area during a maintenance test flight. The helicopter was substantially damaged when it landed in, according to the pilot, 'a deep grassy, rough field.' Examination of the engine compressor case revealed punctures in several locations from the inside out. When the compressor case was opened all blades and vanes aft on the first stage were damaged or fractured.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9229X
- Reported as
- Bell 206B-3
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2483
- Airframe hours
- 2,994
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20, 317 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Ommiflight Helicopters Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- MDW · Chicago, IL
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 41
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 4,285 total · 400 in this make and model · 3,839 as pilot in command · 197 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.