# NTSB DFW05LA066: Bell 206B, N8040T, Pinehurst, TX, January 19, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 19, 2005, 09:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Pinehurst, TX - Coordinates: 30.061666, -95.55278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0617&lon=-95.5528&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Houston FSDO, - NTSB case key (mKey): 60984 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW05LA066 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60984/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05LA066 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's delay in taking remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - misc rotorcraft,tail boom - separation ## Analysis The 3,000-hour flight instructor and a private helicopter pilot were conducting proficiency flight training in a helicopter. At approximately 300-feet (AGL) and during the second autorotation, the helicopter was flared and the rate-of-descent was arrested; however, the low rotor RPM horn sounded and the certified flight instructor (CFI) elected to take the helicopter to the ground. The helicopter landed hard and the main rotor blade severed the tail boom. ## Factual narrative On January 19, 2005, approximately 0900 central standard time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N8040T, was substantially damaged during a hard landing during a practice autorotation near Pinehurst, Texas. The flight instructor and the private pilot, who was receiving instruction, were not injured. The helicopter was owned by Odengene Air Shuttle, Inc. of Sugarland, Texas, and operated by Helicopter Services, Inc. of Spring, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the training flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The local flight departed David Wayne Hooks airport (DWH), near Houston, Texas, at 0800. According to a written statement submitted by the 3,000-hour flight instructor, the private pilot hadn't flown for over a year and proficiency flight training maneuvers were to be conducted. The flight training maneuvers were flown over the private pilot's property. Various training maneuvers were conducted, including pick-up and set-down practice, basic navigation procedures, normal departures and approaches, steep approaches to a hover, quick stops, and steep approaches to the ground. An autorotation was performed without incident. A second autorotation was initiated at 1,000 feet above ground level (AGL); at 300 feet AGL, the instructor started to roll power on, and the engine did not respond immediately. The flight instructor stated that the engine "started to make power" and the rate of decent was arrested in the flare; however, the low RPM horn sounded and he elected to take the helicopter to the ground. During the hard landing, the main rotor blade contacted the tail boom. The flight instructor further reported that the helicopter sustained structural damage during the hard landing when a main rotor blade severed the tail boom, just aft of the horizontal "fin". At 0853, the automated weather observing system at DWH reported wind from 120 degrees at 4 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, sky 4,800 scattered, 8,500 broken, temperature 45 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 37 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 30.42 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8040T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8040T-2011-05-23), registration cancelled 2011-05-23, S/N 3615, built 1982 (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-C20B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20b) (registry code 54385, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3615 - Airframe hours: 13089 - Engines: Allison 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Helicopter Services Inc - Registered owner: Odengene Air Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 24, 2004, 48 hours before - Departed: DWH, HOUSTON, TX - Airport: DWH, David Wayne Hooks Memorial ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 49; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review November 12, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 3,000 total, 450 in this make and model, 2,900 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft broken - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.42 inHg - Observed at: DWH, 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20050119001459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050119001459A), Jan 19, 2005: Bell 206B, Pinehurst, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) While doing autorotations, the instructor and private pilot receiving remedial training had a low main rotor RPM condition during the flare. The… 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.