# NTSB ERA17TA170: Bell 206, N911GE, Orange Springs, FL, May 2, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report - Date: May 2, 2017, 18:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Orange Springs, FL - Coordinates: 29.462778, -81.978057 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4628&lon=-81.9781&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: External load event (Rotorcraft)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/480) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 15, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95097 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17TA170 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95097/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95097 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17TA170 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance between the helicopter's skid and the firefighting bucket and suspension cable, which resulted in the cable becoming entangled on the landing skid and a subsequent loss of helicopter control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring equip/instruments](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: External load event (Rotorcraft)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/480) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/480/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/480/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial helicopter pilot had completed 25 to 30 water drops in a fire zone using a firefighting bucket on suspension cables. After refueling, he completed three or four additional drops and then filled and pulled the bucket from the water and immediately felt "a severely out of CG [center of gravity] condition to the right." He assumed that the bucket cables were entangled in the right landing skid, so he released the water from the bucket. The condition persisted, so he rocked the helicopter to attempt to free the cable without success. He then released the cable with the cargo release button and heard the "clunk" sound typically heard when the bucket was released, but then he heard another "clunk." The helicopter then began to spin violently and crashed into the water. Examination of the wreckage revealed 6-inch long cable marks on the right rear landing skid tube and a torsional fracture of the tail rotor short shaft. Based on the pilot's statement, the cable marks likely occurred initially when a cable became entangled on the skid tube, followed by the fracture of the tail rotor shaft due to cable or bucket contact with the tail rotor assembly. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On May 2, 2017, about 1815 eastern daylight time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N911GE, sustained substantial damage during firefighting operations near Orange Springs, Florida. The helicopter was registered to and operated by the Marion County Sheriff's Office as a public-use aircraft. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that departed Ocala International Airport, Ocala, Florida, about 1500.According to the Aviation Unit Commander and the pilot, the pilot was utilizing a firefighting bucket (Bambi Bucket®) and had completed between 25 and 30 drops on the fire zone. He landed at a nearby landing zone, refueled, and completed 3 or 4 additional drops when the accident occurred. After lowering the bucket into the water and filling it, he pulled the bucket from the water and immediately felt "a severely out of CG condition to the right." He assumed that the bucket cables were entangled in the right landing skid, so he released the water from the bucket. The condition persisted, so he rocked the helicopter to attempt to free the cable; however, this was not successful. He then released the cable with the cargo release button. He heard the "clunk" sound that was typical with releasing the bucket, then he heard another "clunk." The helicopter then began to spin violently and crashed into the water. The pilot freed himself from the cockpit, inflated his personal flotation device, and swam to shore. He utilized his cell phone to call for assistance and was rescued by first responders. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the helicopter. An examination of the wreckage revealed cable marks on the right rear landing skid tube for about 6 inches in length. There was also a torsional fracture of the tail rotor short shaft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N911GE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N911GE-2018-04-06), registration cancelled 2018-04-06, S/N 5271, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206 (B) - 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: 5271 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 8966 - Engines: Rolls-Royce 250-C20 SER 400 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Firefighting, Public use - Operator: Marion County Sheriff - Registered owner: Marion County Sheriff - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 19, 2016, 76 hours before - Departed: OCF, Ocala, FL - Destination: OCF, Ocala, FL - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: serious; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 2, 2017; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,494 total, 1,552 in this make and model, 2,510 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: OCF, 25 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 20170502017799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170502017799A), May 2, 2017: Bell BHT-206, Ft Mccoy, FL, Destroyed. Went to accident site located at NE 212th lane, fort Mccoy, Florida. Located about 0.5 miles from bay lake. Met local law enforcement and aviation unit… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 22, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95097. 5.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467565&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 202 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467566&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 207 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467567&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 4, .PDF, 5 photos, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467568&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.