# NTSB ERA25LA059: Bell 206B, N422RH, Lakeland, FL, November 21, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 21, 2024, 11:35 local (16:35 UTC) - Place: Lakeland, FL - Coordinates: 27.994381, -82.015738 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9944&lon=-82.0157&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of tail rotor effectiveness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 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): 195549 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195549/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195549 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA059 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain yaw control during a tailwind approach, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness, an uncommanded spin, and subsequent hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md) - [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) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Bell 206B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of tail rotor effectiveness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); 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 reported that during the approach to land, he initiated a left turn to align with the wind and landing pad when the helicopter entered an uncommanded right spin. He attributed the loss of control to an 18-knot tailwind and described the event as consistent with a loss of tail rotor effectiveness. He was unable to regain control, and the helicopter descended in a spiraling right turn before impacting the ground. A post-accident review of photographs by the NTSB investigator confirmed that the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N422RH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N422RH), registered now, S/N 3249, built 1981 (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: 3249 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 4875 - Engines: ALLISON 250 SER 250HP 250 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 20, 2024 - Departed: BKV, Brookville, FL - Destination: LAL, Lakeland, FL - Airport: LAL, Lakeland Linder Intl - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review May 20, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,500 total, 40 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: LAL, 2 nm away - METAR: KLAL 211750Z 35011KT 10SM SKC 18/04 A2997 ## 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 20241121017229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241121017229A), Nov 21, 2024: Bell 206B, Lakeland, FL, Substantial damage. On 21 November 2024, a Bell 206B was attempting to land at klal when the pilot lost directional control of the aircraft which resulted in a hard landing… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 3, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195549. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18863470&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20LA059_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Mor pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18855623&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Pilot%20LA059-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 724 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18856002&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos%20La059-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.