# NTSB LAX01LA292: Bell 206-L4, N995PM, Mesa, AZ, August 28, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 28, 2001, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Mesa, AZ - Coordinates: 33.510284, -111.580421 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5103&lon=-111.5804&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 53132 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA292 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53132/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA292 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper autorotation in that he failed to attain the proper descent rate resulting in a hard landing and subsequent airframe damage. A factor was the high temperature. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - autorotation - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - temperature,high (contributing factor) - proper descent rate - not attained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis During a practice autorotation, the helicopter landed hard bending the tail boom. An examination of the helicopter indicated the damage resulted from the hard landing. The tail boom had ripped out at the aft bulkhead, and the landing skids were bent upward at the aft end. The nose of the helicopter was also damaged when the helicopter rocked forward after the hard landing. The helicopter then stopped upright on the skids with no damage to the main rotor blades. The pilot stated that he was doing a practice autorotation landing when the accident occurred. During the last landing, the helicopter "fell through" much faster than anticipated. The pilot stated that no mechanical anomalies were experienced prior to or after the accident. The temperature at the time of the accident was 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The pilot stated that in the future he will allow a higher margin for autorotation power recovery in hot conditions. ## Factual narrative On August 28, 2001, at 1030 hours mountain standard time, a Bell 206-L4, N995PM, was substantially damaged when the tail boom was bent after contacting the ground during a practice autorotation landing at Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona. The airline transport pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight operated by Pacific Marine Leasing under 14 CFR Part 91. The helicopter departed Falcon Field about 1030 for the local flight, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot was interviewed by an investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board shortly after the accident. He stated that he was doing a practice autorotation landing when the accident occurred. During the last landing, the helicopter "fell through" much faster than anticipated. In the resulting steep flare, the tail boom contacted the ground and was bent. The helicopter then touched down on the skids relatively softly and slid to a stop. The pilot accomplished a normal engine shutdown procedure and exited the helicopter. The temperature at the time of the accident was 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The pilot stated that no mechanical anomalies were experienced prior to or after the accident. The pilot stated that in the future he will allow a higher margin for autorotation power recovery in hot conditions. According to an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration, Scottsdale Flight Standards District Office, the damage was the result of the hard landing. According to the inspector, who examined the wreckage, the tail boom was broken prior to striking the ground due to a hard landing. He stated that the tail boom had ripped out at the aft bulkhead, and the landing skids were bent upward at the aft end. There was also damage to the nose of the helicopter. According to the inspector, the helicopter hit the ground hard enough to separate the tail boom from the fuselage and bend the skids, then rocked forward, damaging the nose. The helicopter then stopped upright on the skids. The main rotor blades were not damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N995PM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N995PM), registered now, S/N 52251, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 206-L4 - Registry model: [Bell 206-L4](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206-l4) (registry code 1182110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C30 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c30-series) (registry code 03015, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 52251 - Airframe hours: 49 - Engines: Allison 250-C3OP 490 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Pacific Marine Leasing Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2000, 49 hours before - Departed: FFZ, Mesa, AZ - Airport: FFZ, Falcon Field, runway 22R, 3,801 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 1, 2001; seat: rear; flight hours: 9,550 total, 68 in this make and model, 8,060 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 8 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 100 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: KFFZ ## 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 20010828024609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010828024609A), Aug 28, 2001: Bell 206L4, Mesa, AZ, No damage. (-23) The fuel control was replaced @ sdl (main base or oper) and a maint. Test flt. To the ffz airport. Area was then conducted. The pilot was performing… 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.