# NTSB ERA21LA126: Bell 206, N820H, Pahokee, FL, February 4, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 4, 2021, 00:15 local (05:15 UTC) - Place: Pahokee, FL - Coordinates: 26.746586, -80.655618 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7466&lon=-80.6556&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: Bell, Rolls Royce, FAA, Transportation Safety Board of Canada / Government of Canada - NTSB case key (mKey): 102611 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA126 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102611/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA126 ## Probable cause A loss of main rotor rpm for reasons that could not be determined, which resulted in an autorotation and a subsequent hard landing and rollover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Main rotor system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046200): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046200/cases.md?model=1181519), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046200/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=1181519), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1181519), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had been performing low-altitude agricultural operations for about two hours when he heard an aural “chirp” with no associated caution panel lights. After scanning the instruments, he observed nothing abnormal, then immediately the low rotor rpm horn sounded, and the helicopter started to lose altitude as the rotor speed decayed. He briefly observed a red engine light on the instrument panel, and initiated an autorotation from an altitude about 50 ft above the ground and airspeed of about 35 knots. The helicopter landed hard on uneven terrain and rolled over; a post-crash fire ensued. The pilot and passenger egressed without injury. Although examination of the engine and its recovered components revealed no evidence of preaccident mechanical anomalies, the extent of the impact and thermal damage precluded a thorough examination, and the reason for the loss of rotor rpm could not be determined based on the available information. ## Factual narrative On February 4, 2021, about 0015 eastern standard time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N820H, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Pahokee, Florida. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 agricultural flight. According to the pilot, the purpose of flight was to fly at low level above crops, which would allow the helicopter’s downwash to help keep the crops from freezing. After completing about 2 hours of low-level maneuvering, the pilot heard a “chirp” with no corresponding caution panel lights. He scanned the instruments and did not immediately observe anything abnormal, then the low rotor horn sounded, and the helicopter immediately started to lose altitude as the rotor speed decayed. The pilot briefly observed a red engine light on the instrument panel. The pilot initiated an autorotation from an altitude of about 50 ft, and forward airspeed of about 35 knots. The helicopter landed hard on uneven terrain and rolled over. After the helicopter came to rest, a post-crash fire ensued. The pilot and passenger egressed without injury. The pilot reported that, at the time of the accident, there was about 60 minutes of fuel remaining. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the fuselage, landing skids, engine, and transmission were all located at the main wreckage site, with a portion of the tail boom assembly and a rotor blade found separate from the main wreckage. Significant portions of the helicopter were consumed by the post-impact fire and the engine and transmission assembly was thermally damaged by the post-crash fire. Control continuity could not be established to the main rotor or the tail rotor due to the impact- and thermal-related damage. The fuel system was consumed by post-crash fire; therefore, operation and condition of the fuel system during flight could not be confirmed. The engine and its components were recovered and examined at the manufacturer, which revealed no pre-impact anomalies which would have precluded normal engine operation; however, the examination was limited due to the extent of the thermal and impact damage sustained during the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N820H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N820H), registered now, S/N 2079, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206 (B) - Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-canada-206b) (registry code 1181519) (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: 2079 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 9106 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Roma Air Corporation - Registered owner: Roma Air Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 31, 2020 - Destination: Same as departure - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 15, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,900 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: F45, 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 20210204000139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210204000139A), Feb 4, 2021: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206B, South Bay, FL, Destroyed. On February 4,2021 at aprox 0015L, N820H helicopter crashed while being used for rotor downwash of warm [privacy data omitted]onto corn crops, in order to… ## Other investigations on N820H (1) 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. - [NTSB NYC02LA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA105), May 30, 2002: Bell 206 (N820H), Columbus, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's delay in applying remedial action. A factor in the accident was the pilot allowing the rotor rpm to become too low during the deceleration and touchdown phase of the… 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.