# NTSB LAX03LA253: Bell 206B, N9254Y, Merced, CA, August 5, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 5, 2003, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Merced, CA - Coordinates: 37.325832, -120.525833 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3258&lon=-120.5258&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57669 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA253 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57669/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA253 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Abrupt maneuver, landing - aborted - aircraft control - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted - dynamic rollover - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## 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 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Bell 206B - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 4354 - Airframe hours: 2155 - Engines: 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. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20030805018939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030805018939A), Aug 5, 2003: Bell 206B, Merced, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) On 8/05/03, at approximately 1300 PDT, roy w. pettit, commercial certificate 548350340, PIC of N9254Y, a bht 206BIII helicopter, operating under 14CFR91,… 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.