# NTSB LAX81DXQ13: Bell 206B, N59416, Lee Vining, CA, March 7, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 7, 1981
- Place: Lee Vining, CA · LEE VINING, CA
- Location: 37.9564° N, 119.1223° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lee Vining, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9564&lon=-119.1223&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126531
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81DXQ13
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81DXQ13

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2315   81/3/7  NR.LEE VINING,CA      BELL 206B           CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 30, 3240
        TIME - 0945                    N59416              PX-  0  0  4  AERIAL SURVEY             TOTAL HOURS, 41 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         LEE VINING,CA                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: TAIL ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: HOVERING
           ROLL OVER                                                LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - TRANSMISSION ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM: TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      0
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- CKG SKI AREA.LOST DIR CTL,4FT HOVER.TAIL ROTOR DRIVE FAILED.PAX HEARD BUFFET/SNAP,TAIL.EL 10400FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N59416](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59416-1993-09-27), registration cancelled 1993-09-27, S/N 1152 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19810307008439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810307008439A), Mar 7, 1981: Bell 206B, Lee Vining, CA, Destroyed. Tail rotor drive failure during hover for landing. Hit ground on one skid and rolled over.

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.

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