- Date
- June 26, 2017, 16:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place
- Entiat, WA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N183TCBell 206B
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of tail rotor effectiveness
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 18, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20170626010839A
- Case key
- 95443
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
The pilot’s failure to secure a loose item inside the cockpit that interfered with antitorque pedal control and led to a loss of helicopter control due to a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
Findings · 3
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 reported that, while maneuvering the helicopter at low altitude for an agricultural application flight, an unsecured clipboard that was on the seat next to him fell and became lodged under the antitorque pedals. Unable to free the clipboard, the pilot chose to make a precautionary landing. About 5 to10 ft above ground level, the pilot lost tail rotor authority, and the helicopter began to rotate to the right. After about two rotations, he was able to land the helicopter. During the touchdown, the stinger folded into the tail rotor. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that while maneuvering the helicopter at low altitude for an aerial application flight, an usecured clipboard that was on the seat next to him fell, and became lodged under the anti-torque peddles. Unable to free the clipboard, the pilot chose to make a precautionary landing. About 5-10 ft. above ground level, tail rotor authority was lost and the helicopter began to rotate to the right. After about two rotations he was able to land the helicopter. During the touchdown, the stinger folded into the tail rotor. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N183TC
- Reported as
- Bell 206B (B)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1805
- Built
- 1975
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20 SER, 400 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- JP Helicopters
- Registered owner
- White Rabbit Aviation LLC.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Orondo, WA
- Destination
- Orondo, WA
- Equipment
- Unknown
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
- 32
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 22, 2016
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 353.5 total · 39.2 in this make and model · 230.3 as pilot in command · 23 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 14 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.70 inHg
- Observed at
- KEAT, 21 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 5, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.6 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.