# NTSB FTW02LA176: Bell 206L-3, N103AE, Dover, AR, June 9, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 9, 2002, 00:27 local (05:27 UTC) - Place: Dover, AR - Coordinates: 35.516666, -93.099998 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5167&lon=-93.1000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54896 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA176 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54896/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54896 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA176 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with trees during the approach. A contributing factor was dark night light conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) ## Analysis The helicopter over flew the landing zone, and the pilot initiated an approach from the south. The pilot determined the helicopter was too high for the approach and initiated a go-around. On the second approach, while using the landing light, the pilot was leaning forward and scanning the area ahead when he "felt the aircraft shudder," and then realized the helicopter was in a high sink rate. The pilot applied power to arrest the descent. The helicopter had "just turned 90 degrees when it stabilized; however, not before striking a tree or trees." The pilot applied additional power to climb above the tree line. "Control response was normal except for excessive vibration in the foot pedals, resonating through the fuselage." Due to rough terrain, low illumination, and obstacles, the pilot elected to fly the helicopter to an airport south of the landing zone. The helicopter landed at the airport without further incident. Examination of the helicopter revealed that the tail rotor gearbox was partially separated from its mount, and both tail rotor blades were damaged. ## Factual narrative On June 9, 2002, at 0027 central daylight time, a Bell 206L-3 single-engine helicopter, N103AE, was substantially damaged when its tail rotor struck trees during an approach to a landing zone near Dover, Arkansas. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Air Evac EMS, Inc., of West Plains, Missouri. The commercial pilot and two medical crewmembers were not injured. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company VFR flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. The flight originated from Paris, Arkansas, on June 8, 2002, at 2358. The 5,055-hour pilot reported that when the helicopter neared the landing zone (LZ), a light from a flashlight was observed in the vicinity of the proposed LZ. The helicopter over flew the LZ, and the pilot initiated an approach from the south. The pilot determined the helicopter was too high for the approach and initiated a go-around. On the second approach, while using the landing light, the pilot was leaning forward and scanning the area ahead when he "felt the aircraft shudder," and then realized the helicopter was in a high sink rate. The pilot applied power to arrest the descent. The helicopter had "just turned 90 degrees when it stabilized; however, not before striking a tree or trees." The pilot applied additional power to climb above the tree line. "Control response was normal except for excessive vibration in the foot pedals, resonating through the fuselage." Due to rough terrain, low illumination, and obstacles, the pilot elected to fly the helicopter to the Russellville Regional Airport (RUE), Russellville, Arkansas, located approximately 18 miles south of the landing zone. The helicopter landed at the RUE without further incident. According to a crewmember, the landing light was on and created a limited view of the LZ. During the approach, he lost sight of the LZ, but could still see the reflection of light from the LZ crew off the front bubble of the helicopter. He called out to abort the landing, and the other crewmember starting yelling "trees." The pilot stopped the descent, and performed a 90-degree right turn. One crew member noted "moderate" vibration during the flight to RUE. Examination of the helicopter, by an FAA inspector, revealed that the tail rotor gearbox was partially separated from its mount, and both tail rotor blades were damaged. At 0053, the weather observation facility at the RUE, reported the wind calm, 7 statute miles visibility, a few clouds at 1,100 feet, and an altimeter setting of 30.01 inches of Mercury. The temperature was 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and the dew point was 66 degrees Fahrenheit. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N103AE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N103AE), registered now, S/N 45597, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 206L-3 - Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (registry code 1182107) (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: 45597 - Airframe hours: 31937.5 - Engines: Allison 250-C30P 435 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Air Evac EMS, Inc., doing business as Air Evac Lifeteam - Registered owner: Air Evac Leasing Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, June 4, 2002, 10.7 hours before - Departed: 7M6, Paris, AR - Destination: Dover, AR - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 15, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 5,055 total, 683 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Other flight crew; injuries: none; seat: rear - Other flight crew; injuries: none; seat: rear ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg ## 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 20020609014979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020609014979A), Jun 9, 2002: Bell 206L1, Dover, AR, No damage. (-23) The ems's helicopter tail rotor struck a tree during an approach to a landing site, approx 9 miles north of Dover ar. As the helicopter neared the… ## Other investigations on N103AE (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 FTW04CA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04CA030), Nov 29, 2003: Bell 206L1 (N103AE), Paris, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to remove the main rotor tiedown prior to engine startup. Contributing factors were the pressure induced by conditions/events, improper preflight of the aircraft, and dark night… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 30, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54896. 531 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 416 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443781&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Passenger Statement (item 2, .PDF, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443782&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Redacted.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.