# NTSB ERA09WA183: Bell 206B, N83086, St. Maarten, NT, March 4, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Foreign investigation
- Date: March 4, 2009, 11:48 local (15:48 UTC)
- Place: St. Maarten, NT
- Coordinates: 18.035554, -63.101112 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=18.0356&lon=-63.1011&mi=10
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: Directorate of Civil Aviation Netherlands Antilles
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73443
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09WA183
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73443/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09WA183

## Probable cause

None.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Analysis

None.

## Factual narrative

On March 4, 2009, at 1148 Atlantic standard time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N83086, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Phillipsburg, Saint Maarten, Netherlands, Antilles. The pilot and 2 passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local sightseeing flight. According to information released by the Directorate of Civil Aviation, the helicopter was maneuvering when the pilot noticed a loss of altitude and a corresponding decrease in engine and rotor rpm. The pilot entered autorotation, and maneuvered the helicopter towards the beach. During the descent, he noted that the "engine out" caution light was illuminated. As he approached the landing area, the pilot observed that the beach was crowded, and elected to land in the water. The helicopter landed upright in shallow water, but was subsequently upset by the surf. The accident occurred in the vicinity of 18 degrees, 02 minutes north latitude, 63 degrees, 06 minutes west longitude. This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Netherlands Antilles. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Directorate of Civil Aviation (Ministry of Communications) Seru Mahuma z/n Curacao, Netherlands Antilles Tel: (599-9) 839 3333 Fax: (599-9) 868 9924 This report is for informational purposes and contains only information released by the Government of Netherlands Antilles.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N83086](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N83086-2018-01-26), registration cancelled 2018-01-26, S/N 914, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250-C20 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (registry code 03020, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 914
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 SER 420 horsepower
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Non-U.S., non-commercial
- Operator: Bell 206 Inc
- Registered owner: Bell 206 Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: TFFG, St. Maarten
- Destination: TFFG, St. Maarten
- Flight plan: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; injuries: none; seat: right

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: TNCM

## Other investigations on N83086 (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC87LA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87LA030), Nov 6, 1986: Bell 206B (N83086), Staten Island, NY, substantial damage

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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