# NTSB FTW97LA354: Bell 206L-3, N210PH, Houma, LA, September 20, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 20, 1997, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Houma, LA - Coordinates: 29.580812, -90.81002 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5808&lon=-90.8100&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 24, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20349 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA354 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20349/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA354 ## Probable cause The loss of aircraft control resulting from a bird strike that severed the cyclic flight control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, cruise - object - bird(s) (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - rotorcraft flight control,cyclic control - cut/severed (cause) - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis A bird struck and sheared the cyclic push pull tube during the helicopter's cruise flight at 800 feet MSL. The helicopter started 'shaking violently' and cyclic inputs did not correct the attitude of the aircraft. When the pilot lowered the collective full down and rolled the throttle to the idle position, the helicopter entered a 'near level attitude and a slight left bank.' At about 15 feet AGL, the pilot applied full aft cyclic and pulled pitch for the landing. The helicopter touched the ground in a left sideways movement and bounced once before coming to rest. ## Factual narrative On September 20, 1997, at 1615 central daylight time, a Bell 206L-3 helicopter, N210PH, owned and operated by Petroleum Helicopters. Inc, of Lafayette, Louisiana, under Title 14 CFR Part 91, collided with terrain following a loss of control during cruise flight near Houma, Louisiana. The commercial pilot received minor injuries and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the repositioning flight that departed Fort Jackson, Louisiana, at 1547, under a company VFR flight plan. An interview, conducted by the investigator-in-charge, revealed that the helicopter was in cruise flight at 800 feet MSL about 14 miles from Houma when the pilot heard a loud bang and the helicopter started "shaking violently." Cyclic inputs did not correct the attitude of the aircraft. The pilot, with seat belt and shoulder harness secured, was thrown about the cockpit as the helicopter pitched down and to the left. The pilot lowered the collective full down and rolled the throttle to the idle position. The helicopter entered a "near level attitude and a slight left bank." At about 15 feet AGL, the pilot applied full "aft cyclic and pulled pitch to try to cushion the landing." The helicopter touched the ground in a slight left sideways movement and bounced once before coming to rest. An examination of the helicopter revealed that a bird struck and sheared the cyclic (yellow) push pull tube. The aft portion of the tailboom was bent and the right horizontal stabilizer winglet was separated from the helicopter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N210PH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N210PH-2000-01-20), registration cancelled 2000-01-20, S/N 51541 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 206L-3 - Registry model: [Bell 206L-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l-3) (registry code 1182108) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 51541 - Airframe hours: 2821 - Engines: Allison 250 C30P 450 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, September 2, 1997, 18 hours before - Departed: NONE, FORT JACKSON, LA - Destination: HUM, LA - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 8,108 total, 4,342 in this make and model, 58 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 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 19970920027649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970920027649A), Sep 20, 1997: Bell 206L3, Houma, LA, Substantial damage. Struck a bird, lost control, made a hard landing. Tail boom separated from the aircraft. (-23) the aircraft was in cruise flight at 800 feet MSL when a bird… 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.