# NTSB ERA12CA095: Bell 206L-3, N216TV, Wingate, NC, December 1, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 1, 2011, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Wingate, NC
- Coordinates: 34.984443, -80.419166 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9844&lon=-80.4192&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Autorotation: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 27, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 82441
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA095
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82441/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82441
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA095

## Probable cause

The certified flight instructor did not select an adequate landing site for the practice autorotation.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206L-3, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=1182108), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206L-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=1182108), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md)
- [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Bell 206L-3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=1182108), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Autorotation: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206L-3, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1182108), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The certified flight instructor (CFI) was demonstrating a touchdown autorotation from an altitude of 1,500 feet above ground level to a turf runway. He stated that, during the maneuver, the helicopter's sink rate seemed high, so he continued to pull pitch to arrest the descent rate. The helicopter touched down with a slight forward speed on a downhill slope, and the rear portion of the skids became momentarily stuck in the soft turf. The helicopter pitched forward after breaking loose from the turf, and the main rotor blade contacted the vertical stabilizers and tail rotor drive shaft cover, resulting in substantial damage. The CFI stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the helicopter.

## Factual narrative

The certificated flight instructor (CFI) was demonstrating a touchdown autorotation from an altitude of 1,500 feet above ground level to a turf runway. He stated that during the maneuver, the helicopter's sink rate seemed high, so he continued to pull pitch to arrest the descent rate. The helicopter touched down on soft turf with a slight forward speed on a downhill slope. The rear portion of the skids became momentarily stuck in the soft turf. The helicopter pitched forward after breaking loose from the turf, and the main rotor blade contacted the vertical stabilizers and tail rotor drive shaft cover, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the helicopter.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N216TV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N216TV), registered now, S/N 51166 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L-3
- Registry model: [Bell 206L-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l-3) (registry code 1182108) (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: 51166
- Airframe hours: 8021
- Engines: Rolls Royce 250C30P 650 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: U S Helicopters Inc
- Registered owner: U S Helicopters Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 22, 2011
- Departed: N46, Wingate, NC
- Destination: N46, Wingate, NC
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: N46, US Helicopters Heliport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 66; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, flight engineer, military; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 15, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 15,456 total, 1,400 in this make and model, 8,447 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 7,500 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.32 inHg
- Observed at: EQY, 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 20111201028749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111201028749A), Dec 1, 2011: Bell 206L-3, Wingate, NC, Substantial damage. Pilot [privacy data omitted] was demostrating a straight in autorotation in a clear grassy field. Pilot did not maintain proper control of the aircraft…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 30, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82441. 1.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 709 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360595&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 - Damage to Tail Rotor Drive Shaft Cover (Courtesy FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360601&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Damage%20to%20Tail%20Rotor%20Drive%20Shaft%20Cover%20(Courtesy%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - Damage to Rotor Blade Tip(Courtesy FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360602&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Damage%20to%20Rotor%20Blade%20Tip(Courtesy%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 - Damage to Right Vertical Stabilizer (Courtesy FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360603&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Damage%20to%20Right%20Vertical%20Stabilizer%20(Courtesy%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 4 - Damage to Left Vertical Stabilizer (Courtesy FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360606&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20Damage%20to%20Left%20Vertical%20Stabilizer%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.

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