# NTSB ERA23LA269: Bell 206B, N27UK, Orlando, FL, June 5, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 5, 2023, 15:47 local (19:47 UTC) - Place: Orlando, FL - Coordinates: 28.541171, -81.340903 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5412&lon=-81.3409&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Autorotation: 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): 192379 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA269 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192379/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192379 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA269 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare during a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. ## 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) - [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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Autorotation: 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 During a test flight following a maintenance event, the pilot of the helicopter took off and navigated to a landing zone near the airport. He conducted a normal landing and hover flight without incident for about 5 minutes. The pilot then took off again, climbed to about 600 ft mean sea level, and initiated a straight-in practice autorotation. About 50 ft above ground level (agl), he started the landing flare, while “simultaneously fully rolling on throttle all the way.” As the helicopter approached 15-20 ft agl, the helicopter was level, forward momentum slowed, and “it became clear the helicopter was struggling to maintain lift and we began settling.” Subsequently, he held the controls as still as possible and attempted to maintain level attitude, however, the helicopter landed hard in the grass. The tail boom sustained substantial damage. There pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N27UK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N27UK), registered now, S/N 1871, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206B (NO SERIES) - 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: 1871 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 19324 - Engines: Allison 250-C20 400 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: The Heli Team - Registered owner: Orlando Aircraft Sales LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 17, 2023 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: ORL, Orlando Executive Airport, runway NONE, grass/turf - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 31, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,614 total, 33 in this make and model, 2,532 as pilot in command, 99 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 14 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: ORL - METAR: METAR KORL 051953Z AUTO 07014G19KT 10SM SCT045 29/18 A2989 RMK AO2 SLP124 T02890183= ## 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 20230605010779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230605010779A), Jun 5, 2023: Bell 206B, Orlando, FL, Substantial damage. The pilot started aircraft at orl about 1540 on 06/05/2023 with a maintenance person in the left seat as an observer. Pilot departed the hangar area and… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 9, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192379. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16168016&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 522 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16167383&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20-%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 485 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16167490&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.