# NTSB ERA15LA060: Bell 206B, N418SV, West Palm Beach, FL, October 25, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 25, 2014, 12:40 local (16:40 UTC) - Place: West Palm Beach, FL - Coordinates: 26.646667, -80.294998 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.6467&lon=-80.2950&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: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 24, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 90429 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15LA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90429/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90429 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA060 ## Probable cause A hard landing for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Other (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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) (defining event); 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) ## Analysis The pilot, who was also the owner of the helicopter, reported that, after uneventfully completing a local flight, she observed a crack in the left skid. Further examination by a mechanic revealed additional substantial damage consistent with a hard landing. The pilot and a pilot-rated passenger stated that no hard landings occurred during the local flight. The pilot also reported that, 2 days before the accident, a flight instructor had conducted two instructional flights in the accident helicopter at a different airport. According to the flight instructor and the two pilots receiving instruction on those flights, no hard landings occurred during the two flights, and they observed no damage during the two preflight and postflight inspections. Additionally, following those flights, the pilot repositioned the helicopter back to its home airport and did not notice any damage during the preflight or postflight inspection. The pilot added that the helicopter was not flown between the repositioning flight and the local flight after which the damage was discovered. The investigation could not determine when the damage occurred or who was flying the helicopter when it did. ## Factual narrative On October 25, 2014, about 1240 eastern daylight time, a Bell 206B, N418SV, operated by Helix Helicopters, exhibited substantial damage after landing uneventfully at Wellington Aero Club (FD38), West Palm Beach, Florida. The commercial pilot and four passengers were not injured. The local personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which departed FD38 about 1130. The owner/pilot stated that she took some friends on a pleasure sightseeing flight. After landing the helicopter on a dolly and disembarking the passengers, she observed a large crack on the underside of the passenger side skid. Further examination of the helicopter by a mechanic revealed the following additional damage: impact damage between the main driveshaft and transmission isolation mount; a cracked support at the left forward engine mount; a cracked starter generator mount bracket; and a cracked main rotor yoke. The damage was consistent with a recent hard landing. The owner/pilot stated that there were no hard landings during the sightseeing flight, which was corroborated by a pilot-rated-passenger. The owner/pilot added that 2 days prior to the damage being observed, two instructional flights were conducted by another pilot/flight instructor at Palm Coast, Florida. Following those instructional flights, the owner/pilot repositioned the helicopter to FD38 and did not notice any damage. She further stated that the helicopter was not flown between the repositioning flight and the sightseeing flight. According to written statements from the flight instructor and two pilots receiving instruction, no hard landings occurred during the two instructional flights. Additionally, during a postflight inspection following the first flight, oil was observed around the tailrotor gearbox as the tailrotor gearbox cap had separated. The tailrotor gearbox was then serviced with oil and the tailrotor gearbox cap was secured. A preflight and postflight inspection during the second flight did not reveal any other anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N418SV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N418SV), registered now, S/N 2399, built 1978 (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 SER 250HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (registry code 03002, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2399 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 5085 - Engines: ALLISON 250 C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Helix Helicopters - Registered owner: Helix Holdings Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 7, 2014, 41 hours before - Departed: FD38, West Palm Beach, FL - Destination: FD38, West Palm Beach, FL - Airport: FD38, Wellington Aero Club ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 6, 2014; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 900 total, 450 in this make and model, 700 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 11 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: PBI, 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 20141025021829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141025021829A), Oct 25, 2014: Bell 206B, Wellington, FL, Substantial damage. On Saturday October 25, 2014, about 1240 local time, the pilot/owner of a Bell 206 jet ranger, N418SV, noticed a damaged left skid while inspecting the… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 26, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90429. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 843 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431178&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Passenger Statement (item 2, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431179&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Master.PDF - Other Pilots' Statements (item 3, .PDF, 162 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431180&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pilots%27%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 4, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431181&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photo 1 – Left Skid (Photo Courtesy of ERSI) (item 5, .PDF, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431182&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Left%20Skid%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20ERSI)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 – Main Driveshaft (Photo Courtesy of ERSI) (item 6, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431183&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Main%20Driveshaft%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20ERSI)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 – Main Rotor Yoke (Photo Courtesy of ERSI) (item 7, .PDF, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431184&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20%E2%80%93%20Main%20Rotor%20Yoke%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20ERSI)-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.