# NTSB ERA11CA162: Bell 206, N796M, Ridgeland, SC, February 24, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 24, 2011, 15:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Ridgeland, SC - Coordinates: 32.49361, -80.991943 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4936&lon=-80.9919&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78424 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA162 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78424/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78424 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA162 ## Probable cause The certified flight instructor's delayed remedial action during a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [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. - [Maneuvering: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the certified flight instructor (CFI), the student pilot was conducting a practice autorotation with a planned power recovery. The helicopter’s rotor rpm was maintained throughout the maneuver and the student pilot initiated the flare during the recovery stage. The student failed to increase the throttle and the CFI did not react in time to add engine power in order to recover. The CFI subsequently took authority of the flight controls and the helicopter landed hard. The main rotor contacted the tail boom, resulting in substantial damage to the tail boom, tail rotor drive shaft, and tail rotor control rod. The CFI stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the helicopter. ## Factual narrative According to the certificated flight instructor (CFI), the student pilot was conducting a practice straight-in autorotation with a planned power recovery from an altitude of 1,000 feet. The CFI stated that the helicopter’s rotor rpm was maintained throughout the maneuver. The student pilot initiated the flare during the recovery stage of the maneuver, but did not apply throttle, and the CFI did not react in time to add power in order to recover. The CFI subsequently took the controls and the helicopter landed hard. The main rotor contacted the tail boom, resulting in substantial damage to the tail boom, tail rotor drive shaft, and tail rotor control rod. The CFI stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the helicopter. ## Aircraft - Registration: N796M (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BELL 206 (B) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3396 - Engines: Rolls Royce C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Lady Alice Corp - Registered owner: Lady Alice Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 23, 2010, 51 hours before - Departed: SAV, Savannah, GA - Destination: 3J1, Ridgeland, SC - Airport: 3J1, Ridgeland Airport, runway 21, 2,692 × 70 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 39; injuries: none; flight instructor, private, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 27, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 1,300 total, 421 in this make and model, 1,206 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 53; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 78 total, 78 in this make and model, 11 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: NBC, 14 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 20110224001899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110224001899A), Feb 24, 2011: Bell Helico 206B, Ridgeland, SC, Substantial damage. Aircraft made hard landing during auto rotation pratice. Student pilot was at controls. Aircraft sustained major damage to tail boom. Two on board, no… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 2, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78424. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 638 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344872&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photos of damage to helicopter (Courtesy FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344886&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20of%20damage%20to%20helicopter%20(Courtesy%20FAA)-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.