# NTSB ERA22LA337: Bell 206B, N515TV, Pelion, SC, June 18, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 18, 2022, 08:14 local (12:14 UTC) - Place: Pelion, SC · On airport - Coordinates: 33.794639, -81.245861 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7946&lon=-81.2459&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 105584 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA337 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105584/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105584 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA337 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare during a practice autorotation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (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) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Autorotation: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [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 said that while practicing an autorotation, the helicopter did not slide forward on the landing as he had expected, and instead came to a quick stop. The pilot rated passenger said the helicopter did not slide forward like a typical run-on landing, but “bucked” forward as it came to a quick stop just after it touched down. The pilot subsequently felt a vibration in the anti-torque pedals and shut the helicopter down. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed that the tail rotor drive shaft was bent and the cowling around the area of the bend had ruptured. Given that the helicopter was operating normally prior to the landing, it is likely that the forces imparted by (or were the result of) the pilot’s control inputs during the landing resulted in the damage to the tail rotor drive shaft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N515TV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N515TV-2023-12-06), registration cancelled 2023-12-06, S/N 2130, built 1977 (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 400HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (registry code 03013, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2130 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 142999 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250 turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Dirt Pour LLC - Registered owner: Dirt Pour LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 22, 2021 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 6J0, Lexington County, runway 18, 4,334 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 22, 2022; seat: right; flight hours: 3,085 total, 262 in this make and model, 37.6 in the last 90 days - Pilot-rated passenger; age 27; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 2,025 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 3 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: KCAE, 11 nm away - METAR: METAR KCAE 181156Z 22003KT 6SM BR SCT005 24/23 A3003 ## 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 20220618010589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220618010589A), Jun 18, 2022: Bell 206B, Pelion, SC, Substantial damage. Pilot had completed several practice approaches at Lexington County Airport (6J0) and then performed a practice autorotation with the throttle in the idle… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 15, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105584. 26.8 MB in all. - NTSB summary of email - pilot written statement (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 371 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14292111&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Summary%20of%20Email%20-%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - NTSB summary of email - pilot rated passenger (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 317 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14291964&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Summary%20of%20Email%20-%20Pilot%20Rated%20Passenger-Rel.pdf - Investigation photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 256 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14264117&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investgation%20Photos-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 25.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14292482&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20Excerpts_Redacted-Rel.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.