# NTSB DEN87LA206: Bell 206B, N5001Q, Albuquerque, NM, August 3, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 3, 1987, 07:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Location: 35.0845° N, 106.6511° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Albuquerque, NM, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0845&lon=-106.6511&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 8, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17290
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87LA206
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17290/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87LA206

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - fuel system,dump valve - failure,partial (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - misc rotorcraft,tail boom - penetrated
  - misc rotorcraft,tail boom - separation

## Analysis

DURING CRUISE FLT A PARTIAL POWER FAILURE OCCURRED REQUIRING A FULL EMERG AUTOROTATIVE LANDING TO BE CONDUCTED TO AN UNEVEN DIRT AREA. FOLLOWING TOUCHDOWN THE ACFT SLID FORWARD AND THE TAIL ROSE CAUSING THE MAIN ROTOR TO CONTACT THE TAIL BOOM SEVERING THE LAST THREE FEET. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE ACFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE POWER LOSS WAS DUE TO A SEPARATION OF THE ENG GOVERNOR PYV VALVE CAUSING THE ENG TO DECELERATE TO A BELOW IDLE CONDITION. NO DETERMINATION COULD BE MADE AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE SEPARATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5001Q (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2413
- Airframe hours: 3296
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 425 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Donald Ambabo
- Registered owner: T.E. Mitchell And Sons, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 1, 1986, 10 hours before
- Departed: 4AC, ALBUQUERQUE, NM
- Airport: 4AC, Coronado

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 10,025 total, 1,025 in this make and model, 8,200 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ABQ, 6 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 19870803040789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870803040789A), Aug 3, 1987: Bell 206B, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. Main rotor hit tail boom on autorotation. Air accumulator fell off. Pilot inexperienced in full autorotations.

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.

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