# NTSB FTW98LA002: Bell 206B, N2163Y, New Iberia, LA, October 2, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 2, 1997, 14:40 local (19:40 UTC) - Place: New Iberia, LA - Coordinates: 29.999956, -91.810127 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0000&lon=-91.8101&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report October 30, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20441 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA002 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20441/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA002 ## Probable cause improper touchdown by the flight instructor. A related factor was: soft sod in the touchdown/landing area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command(cfi) - terrain condition - grass (contributing factor) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - touchdown - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The flight instructor (CFI) was demonstrating an autorotation with a 180 degree turn to a soft sod area. The CFI reported that the helicopter touched down with only slight forward speed in a slightly nose low attitude. Following touchdown, the skids dug into the soft ground, and the helicopter began pitching forward. The CFI applied 'slight downward collective.' Subsequently, the helicopter nosed over, the main rotor blades contacted the ground, and the helicopter came to rest on its left side. The commercial pilot, who was receiving instruction, reported that the helicopter touched down smoothly in a level attitude 'carrying 5 to 10 knots forward speed.' An FAA inspector recommended that local helicopter operators discontinue using the sod area for running landings and autorotations until the ground is considered hard enough for practice running landings. The CFI stated that at the time of the accident, the wind was variable, but generally aligned with the direction of landing. ## Factual narrative On October 2, 1997, at 1440 central daylight time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N2163Y, registered to Flight Safety International, Inc., and operated by Petroleum Helicopter, Inc., as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, was substantially damaged during a practice autorotational landing at the Acadiana Regional Airport, New Iberia, Louisiana. The flight instructor sustained minor injuries, and the commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Lafayette Regional Airport, Lafayette, Louisiana, about 40 minutes prior to the accident. According to the operator, the flight instructor was demonstrating an autorotation with a 180 degree turn to the sod area adjacent to Seaway 34. The operator added that "the winds were variable, but were generally aligned with the landing direction." The fight instructor reported to the operator that "the aircraft touched down with only slight forward speed in a slightly nose low attitude." Following touchdown, the helicopter began pitching over on its nose and the flight instructor applied "slight downward collective." Subsequently, the helicopter nosed over, the main rotor blades contacted the ground ,and the helicopter came to rest on its left side. The commercial pilot receiving instruction stated in the narrative portion of the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), that the aircraft touched down smoothly in a level attitude. He added that "we were carrying 5 to 10 knots forward speed" during the landing. Examination of the aircraft by the FAA inspector revealed that the tailboom was separated at the fuselage, the airframe sustained structural damage, and the main rotor and tail rotor blades were damaged. The FAA inspector confirmed that the ground was very soft and this condition contributed to the skids of the helicopter to dig into the soft ground, resulting in the helicopter to nose over. The FAA inspector recommended that the local helicopter operators to discontinue using the sod area for running landings and autorotations until the sod area is hard enough to practice running landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: N2163Y (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Bell 206B - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3496 - Airframe hours: 5019 - Engines: Allison 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Petroleum Helicopter Inc. - Registered owner: Flight Safety International - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 6, 1997 - Departed: ARA - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: ARA, Acadiana Regional ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; private, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 580 total, 77 in this make and model, 478 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ACA ## 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 19971002029559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971002029559A), Oct 2, 1997: Bell 206B, New Iberia, LA, Substantial damage. Practicing approaches when the tower observed the aircraft overturned midfield, other circumstances unknown. (-23) the flight instructor experienced a hard… 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.