# NTSB ERA10TA292: Bell 206B, N6401X, Memphis, TN, May 30, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: May 30, 2010, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Memphis, TN - Coordinates: 35.249721, -90.016387 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2497&lon=-90.0164&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 12, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76179 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10TA292 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76179/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76179 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10TA292 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm and the certificated flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Copilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: prop/rotor parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 124 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a public use training flight, the certificated flight instructor (CFI) simulated an engine failure as the helicopter was climbing through approximately 450 feet above ground level (agl). He then advised the pilot to terminate the maneuver with a power recovery. Approximately 100 feet agl the CFI told the pilot to increase the engine torque to full power. Shortly thereafter, the CFI heard the low rotor rpm warning and relayed to the pilot that he was assuming authority of the helicopter's controls. The CFI advanced the throttle to 100 percent power while both pilots remained on the controls. During the flare, the tail stinger struck the ground and the helicopter landed hard. The main rotor came into contact with the tail boom aft of the horizontal stabilizer and severed it. There was no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomaly or malfunction with the helicopter. ## Factual narrative On May 30, 2010, about 1245 central daylight time, a Bell 206B, N6401X, operated by the City of Memphis Police Department, was substantially damaged during a practice autorotation at the Memphis Police Department Heliport (27TN), Memphis, Tennessee. The certificated flight instructor and certificated commercial pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The public use training flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the flight instructor, after takeoff, they remained in the traffic pattern to conduct flight maneuvers. After about 20 minutes, as the commercial pilot was climbing the helicopter through approximately 450 feet, the flight instructor rolled the throttle back to flight idle to simulate an engine failure. He then advised the commercial pilot to terminate the maneuver with a power recovery. The commercial pilot immediately lowered the collective and entered an autorotation. Approximately 100 feet above the ground, the flight instructor advised the commercial pilot to increase the throttle to full power. Shortly thereafter, the flight instructor heard the low rotor warning signal, and “got on the controls with the pilot.” The flight instructor advanced the throttle to 100 percent power, as both pilots remained on the controls. During the flare, the tail stinger struck the ground and the helicopter landed hard. The main rotor came into contact with the tail boom aft of the horizontal stabilizer and severed it. Examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the helicopter came to rest on the helipad, and that the tail boom was severed aft of the horizontal stabilizer. Examination of the airframe and flight control system components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions, and neither pilot reported any flight control or engine anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6401X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6401X), registered now, S/N 4522, built 1999 (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-C20J](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20j) (registry code 54181, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 4522 - Airframe hours: 2794 - Engines: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C20J 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft - local, Public use - Operator: City Of Memphis - Registered owner: City Of Memphis - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 10, 2010, 1,044 hours before - Departed: 27TN, Memphis, TN - Destination: 27TN, Memphis, TN - Airport: 27TN, Memphis Police Heliport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 38; injuries: minor; flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 25, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 4,199 total, 1,703 in this make and model, 3,825 as pilot in command - Co-pilot; age 46; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 23, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 2,366 total, 1,918 in this make and model, 2,240 as pilot in command, 121 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: NQA, 10 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 20100530006099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100530006099A), May 30, 2010: Bell 206B, Memphis, TN, Substantial damage. Training exercise being conducted at 27TN on 5/30/2010. During autorotation exercise tail stinger made contact with the ground causing helicopter to nose over… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 3, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76179. 933 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 277 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333521&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1-Memphis Police-Severed Tailboom (item 2, .PDF, 339 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333522&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-Memphis%20Police-Severed%20Tailboom-Master.PDF - Photo 2-Memphis Police- Severed Tailrotor (item 3, .PDF, 308 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333523&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202-Memphis%20Police-%20Severed%20Tailrotor-Master.PDF - Reports from Local Agencies-Memphis Police Air Support safey result (item 4, .PDF, 9 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333524&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Local%20Agencies-Memphis%20Police%20Air%20Support%20safey%20result-Master.PDF 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.