- Date
- May 29, 2015, 12:10 local (16:10 UTC)
- Place
- Caledonia, MI
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N206EDBell 206 - B11
- Defining event
- Maneuvering: Loss of tail rotor effectiveness
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 27, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Admnistration
- FAA report
- 20150529008179A
- Case key
- 91292
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A loss of tail rotor effectiveness while maneuvering at low altitude, resulting in a collision with trees.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot and passenger were conducting an aerial observation flight at low altitude to inspect power lines. The pilot stated he maneuvered to do a right turn and encountered a gust of wind. The pilot lost tail rotor effectiveness and attempted to recover control of the helicopter. Before the pilot could regain full control, the helicopter descended into the tree tops and came to rest in a tree. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot and passenger were conducting an aerial observation flight at low altitude to inspect power lines. The pilot stated he maneuvered to do a right turn and encountered a gust of wind. The pilot lost tail rotor effectiveness and attempted to recover control of the helicopter. Before the pilot could regain full control, the helicopter descended into the tree tops and came to rest in a tree. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N206ED
- Reported as
- Bell 206 - B11 (B)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1958
- Built
- 1976
- Airframe hours
- 9,618.5
- Engine
- Rolls Royce C20B, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 91
- Operator
- Hawkeye Helicopter
- Registered owner
- Hawkeye Helicopter
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 11, 2014
- Departed
- KJXN · Jackson, MI
- Destination
- KGRR · Grand Rapids, MI
- Equipment
- Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Onboard weather
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 12, 2013
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 1,454 total · 425 in this make and model · 1,407 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 36 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 14 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 23,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.07 inHg
- Observed at
- KGRR, 4 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 8, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.2 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.