- Date
- August 5, 2003, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Merced, CA
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N9254YBell 206B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 28, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20030805018939A
- Case key
- 57669
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 excessive movement of the helicopter's controls during an aborted landing, which resulted in a loss of control (dynamic rollover) and an in-flight collision with terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported he was landing on a concrete pad at a construction site. The helicopter was not positioned completely on the concrete landing pad, and the aft section of the skids were hanging off the pad. While lowering the collective, the helicopter rocked back and the tail rotor skid touched the ground. The pilot abruptly attempted to pull the helicopter back into a hover, and the helicopter moved forward and started to roll to the right. The pilot was unable to stop the rolling movement, and the helicopter struck the ground, coming to rest on its right side.
Factual narrative
History of flight
On August 5, 2003, about 1300 Pacific daylight time, a Bell 206B, N9254Y, had a loss of control while landing at a construction site near Merced, California. Hostetler Investments LLC was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured; the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The local business flight departed Modesto, California, about 1100. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The primary wreckage was at 37 degrees 19 minutes north latitude and 120 degrees 31 minutes west longitude.
The pilot reported he was landing on a concrete pad at a construction site. The helicopter was not positioned completely on the concrete landing pad, the aft section of the skids were hanging off the pad. While lowering the collective the helicopter rocked back and the tail rotor skid touched the ground. The pilot abruptly attempted to pull the helicopter back into a hover. The helicopter moved forward and started to roll to the right. The pilot was unable to stop the rolling movement. The helicopter struck the ground and came to rest on its right side.
Personnel information
A review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman records revealed the pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land, multi-engine land, and rotorcraft-helicopter ratings.
The pilot held a second class medical certificate that was issued on September 18, 2002. It had no limitations or waivers.
The pilot reported an estimated total flight time of 1,130 hours. He logged 134 hours in the last 90 days, and 23 in the last 30 days. He had en estimated 400 hours in this make and model.
Aircraft information
The helicopter was a Bell 206 BIII, serial number 4354. A review of the airplane's logbooks revealed a total airframe time of 2,155 hours at the last annual inspection. The annual inspection was completed on October 19, 2002.
Meteorological information
The closest official weather observation station was Modesto City county Airport, Modesto, California (MOD), which was located 2.5 nautical miles (nm) south of the accident site. The elevation of the weather observation station was 97 feet msl. A routine aviation weather report (METAR) for MOD was issued at 1253 PDT. It stated: skies clear; visibility 10 miles; winds from 360 degrees at 8 knots; temperature 81 degrees Fahrenheit; dew point 57 degrees Fahrenheit; altimeter 29.98 InHg.
Tests and research
Investigators examined the wreckage at the aircraft owners storage facility located in Los Banos, California, on August 19, 2003.
The aircraft was inspected and no malfunctions or abnormalities with the flight control system were noted.
Additional information
The IIC released the wreckage to the owner's representative.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9254Y
- Reported as
- Bell 206B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 4354
- Airframe hours
- 2,155
- Engine
- Rolls-Royce 250-C20, 420 hp, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Hostetler Investments LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 19, 2002
- Departed
- MOD · Modesto, CA
- Destination
- Merced, CA
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 43
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- June 28, 2003
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 1,130 total · 400 in this make and model · 1,003 as pilot in command · 134 in the last 90 days · 23 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
- Observed at
- MOD, 3 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.