# NTSB GAA16CA439: Bell 206 L4, N7898X, Broussard, LA, August 18, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 18, 2016, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Broussard, LA - Coordinates: 30.076665, -91.94889 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0767&lon=-91.9489&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 18, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93868 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA439 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93868/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93868 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA439 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain a proper touchdown point, which resulted in the helicopter sliding off the aft end of the transport dolly. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206-L4, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1182110), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206-L4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=1182110), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: ground equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Bell 206-L4, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050/cases.md?model=1182110), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370); cases with it: [Bell 206-L4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=1182110), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Bell 206-L4, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=1182110), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206-L4, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md?model=1182110), [All aircraft, 124 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Bell 206-L4, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=1182110), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bell 206-L4, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1182110), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot of the skid-equipped helicopter, he was practicing landing on an 18 foot by 18 foot transport dolly. The pilot reported that during his second landing on the dolly, he landed on the aft end of the dolly and the helicopter slid backwards. He recalled that he heard and felt a thump, pulled pitch, and the helicopter ascended about 5 feet, yawed to the right and he initiated an autorotation and landed. He reported that the bottom of the skids showed scrape marks, "so I must have slid back off the dolly and hit the tail stinger." The tailboom and the vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with any portion of the helicopter during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operations. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot of the skid-equipped helicopter, he was practicing landing on an 18 foot by 18 foot transport dolly. The pilot reported that during his second landing on the dolly, he landed on the aft end of the dolly and the helicopter slid backwards. He recalled that he heard and felt a thump, pulled pitch, and the helicopter ascended about 5 feet, yawed to the right and he initiated an autorotation and landed. He reported that the bottom of the skids showed scrape marks, "so I must have slid back off the dolly and hit the tail stinger." The tailboom and the vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with any portion of the helicopter during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7898X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7898X), registered now, S/N 52299, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206 L4 (L4) - Registry model: [Bell 206-L4](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206-l4) (registry code 1182110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250 20&30 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-20-30-series) (registry code 54584, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 52299 - Year built: 2004 - Engines: ROLLS-ROYCE M250-C30P 317 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Acadiana Helicopters LLC. - Registered owner: Acadiana Helicopters LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: IYA, ABBEVILLE, LA - Destination: 3LA7, Broussard, LA - Airport: 3LA7, Variable Bor Ram, runway H1, 65 × 65 ft, concrete - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; airline transport; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 23, 2016; seat: left; flight hours: 11,400 total, 1,250 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 9 knots, gusting 18 - Lowest ceiling: 2,600 ft broken - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KLFT ## 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 20160818013349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160818013349A), Aug 18, 2016: Bell 206-L4, Broussard, LA, Substantial damage. Aircraft made a landing approach with a heading of 35 degrees to it's intended landing zone. Two practice landing attempts were performed onto a nearby movable… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 18, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93868. 603 KB in all. - Pilot's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 319 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446639&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 285 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446640&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Master.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.