# NTSB CHI99LA334: Bell 206B, N4010G, Nekoosa, WI, September 9, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 9, 1999, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Nekoosa, WI - Coordinates: 44.31039, -89.900924 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3104&lon=-89.9009&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47296 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA334 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47296/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA334 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind gusts. Factors were the wind gusts and the two vehicles parked nearby. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Hard landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - vehicle (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said he took off from the southeast side of a building and flew west. He stated he turned and flew north. He turned right and flew to the east. He said he 'experienced a hard gust of wind on my tail, causing the aircraft to enter a right spin.' He applied full left rudder and the helicopter did not stop its spinning. He stated he lowered 'the nose in an attempt to fly out of the spin, but to no avail again.' The pilot stated, 'I would need to attempt an auto-rotation to a safe landing.' He said that the 'landing was hard and the tail spun and hit two cars in the parking lot.' The pass was done in slow cruise. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions. The pilot checked wind before the flight. The wind was 270 degrees at 15 knots. ## Factual narrative On September 9, 1999, at 1030 central daylight time (cdt), a Bell 206B, N4010G, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain and objects near Nekoosa, Wisconsin. The pilot and passenger reported minor injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 aerial observation flight was not on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the flight. The local flight departed near Nekoosa, Wisconsin at 1025 cdt. In a written statement, the pilot said that he took off from the southeast side of the Pacific International building, near Nekoosa, Wisconsin, and flew to the west end of the building. He stated that he turned north and flew to the far north end of the property line. The pilot said that he turned right and flew to the east. He said that he "...experienced a hard gust of wind on my tail, causing the aircraft to enter a right spin." The pilot stated that he applied full left rudder and the helicopter did not stop its spinning. He said that he lowered "the nose in an attempt to fly out of the spin, but to no avail again." The pilot stated, "I would need to attempt an auto-rotation to a safe landing." He said that the "landing was hard and the tail spun and hit two cars in the parking lot." The pilot stated that the pass was done in slow cruise and he reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions. He said that on the way to the building, he checked wind by looking at windsocks approximately 1 to 2 miles southwest of the building. At 1054 cdt, the Wisconsin Rapids, Alexander Field South Wood County Airport, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin observation was: Wind 270 degrees at 15 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky condition scattered 2,900 feet broken 4,300 feet; temperature 13 degrees C; dew point 8 degrees C; altimeter 29.81 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4010G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4010G), registered now, S/N 183, built 1968 (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-C20](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20) (registry code 54178, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 183 - Airframe hours: 14842 - Engines: Allison 250-C20 400 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Registered owner: Darrel Paul Bassuener - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 26, 1998, 8 hours before - Departed: WI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 1,678 total, 1,678 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,300 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ISW, 5 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 19990909036609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990909036609A), Sep 9, 1999: Bell 206B, Nekoosa, WI, Substantial damage. (.19) On September 9, 1999, at 1015 central daylight time, a Bell 206B, N4010G, operated and piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it… 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.