# NTSB DFW06CA058: Bell 206L-4, N225GH, Fort Worth, TX, January 25, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 25, 2006, 15:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place: Fort Worth, TX
- Coordinates: 32.985832, -97.317779
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9858&lon=-97.3178&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Flight Standards
- NTSB case key (mKey): 63153
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06CA058
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63153/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA058

## Probable cause

The flight instructors failure to maintain main rotor RPM and improper flare, 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(cfi)
  - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - misc rotorcraft,tail boom - bent

## Analysis

The 11,500-hour helicopter flight instructor reported that he was instructing a 9,500-hour airline transport rated pilot at a private training runway (2,000-feet long by 75-feet wide asphalt runway).  During a practice autorotation, the flight instructor stated that the helicopter experienced a hard landing as a result of low rotor RPM during touchdown.  The flight instructor also reported that there were no abnormalities with the helicopter's flight controls, or engine at the time of the accident.  The winds at the time of the accident were reported as light and variable.  The density altitude was estimated at 750-feet mean sea level (MSL).

## Factual narrative

The 11,500-hour helicopter flight instructor reported he was instructing a 9,500-hour airline transport rated pilot at a private training runway (2,000-feet long by 75-feet wide asphalt runway).  During a practice autorotation, the flight instructor stated that the helicopter experienced a hard landing as a result of low rotor RPM during touchdown.  The flight instructor also reported there were no abnormalities with the helicopter's flight controls, or engine at the time of the accident.  The winds at the time of the accident were reported as light and variable.  The density altitude was estimated at 750-feet mean sea level (MSL).

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N225GH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N225GH), registered now, S/N 52143, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Bell 206L-4
- Registry model: [Bell 206-L4](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206-l4) (registry code 1182110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250-C30 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c30-series) (registry code 03015, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 52143
- Engines: Allison C250-130P 650 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Bell Training Academy, doing business as Bell Training Academy
- Registered owner: Textron Financial Corp
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: KAFW, Fort Worth, TX
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 58; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 11,500 total, 750 in this make and model, 11,125 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 41; injuries: none; commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 9,500 total, 25 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 25 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observed at: AFW, 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 20060125000369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060125000369A), Jan 25, 2006: Bell 206L4, Ft Worth, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft damage during touchdown autorotation due to low rotor RPM.

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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