# NTSB FTW79DA080: Bell 206B, N203AL, Sorrento, LA, May 17, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 17, 1979
- Place: Sorrento, LA · SORRENTO, LA
- Location: 30.1836° N, 90.8666° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sorrento, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1836&lon=-90.8666&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 13, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 136114
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW79DA080
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79DA080

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0884  79/5/17    SORRENTO,LA         BELL 206B           CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 35, 4626
        TIME - 1000                    N203AL              PX-  0  0  4  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 2662 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          NEW ORLEANS,LA              ST FRANCISVILLE,LA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: TAIL ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           ROTORCRAFT - TRANSMISSION ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM: TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LACK OF LUBRICATION-SPECIFIC PART,NOT SYSTEM
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERHEATED
           MISCELLANEOUS - EVASIVE MANEUVER TO AVOID COLLISION
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- DRIVESHAFT ASSEMBLY,PART 206040-100-13,FAILED DUE TO LOSS OF GREASE FROM FORWARD BOOT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N203AL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N203AL-2016-01-26), registration cancelled 2016-01-26, S/N A-AWI 102898-11-R447 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Aeroworks AEROLITE 103](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeroworks-aerolite-103) (registry code 059020T) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 447](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-447) (registry code 55576, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo jet
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19790517011369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790517011369A), May 17, 1979: Bell 206L, Sorrento, LA, Substantial damage. Forced landing due to failure of tail rotor drive shaft assembly.

## Other investigations on N203AL (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL82DA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82DA036), Jan 17, 1982: Bell 206B (N203AL), Centerville, AL, substantial damage

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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