# NTSB LAX93LA258: Bell 206B3, N38EA, Stoneyford, CA, June 17, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 17, 1993, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Stoneyford, CA - Coordinates: 39.269969, -122.459358 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2700&lon=-122.4594&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28409 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA258 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28409/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA258 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing wind conditions during a hover operation. A factor in the accident was the high density altitude and the gusting, variable wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, taxi - aerial - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, taxi - aerial - terrain condition - berm - rotor system,tail rotor blade - separation - directional control - not possible, pilot in command - emergency procedure - initiated, pilot in command - Hard landing, descent - emergency ## Analysis The pilot said that he had established a hover in a mountain landing zone and was in the process of air taxiing to a point where the cargo could be unloaded. The pilot said that a gust of wind buffeted the helicopter and the tail rotor contacted a rise in the ground. The pilot said he then lost all yaw directional control and the helicopter settled hard into a creek, resulting in a buckle to the boom and damage to the internal skid attach structure. ## Factual narrative On June 17, 1993, at about 1130 Pacific daylight time, a Bell 206B3 helicopter, N38EA, damaged the tailboom and skid support structure during a taxi operation following landing at a remote mountain landing site near Stoneyford, California. The aircraft was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations by Smith Helicopters of Ukiah, California, and was on an on demand air taxi cargo flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a company VFR flight plan was filed. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from a second remote landing area near the accident site on the day of the mishap at about 1120 hours. In his written report the pilot said that he had established a hover in a mountain landing zone and was in the process of air taxiing to a point where the cargo could be unloaded. The pilot said that a gust of wind buffeted the helicopter and the tail rotor contacted a rise in the ground. The pilot said he then lost all yaw directional control and the helicopter settled hard into a creek, resulting in a buckle to the boom and damage to the internal skid attach structure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N38EA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38EA-2011-11-04), registration cancelled 2011-11-04, S/N 2555, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206B3 - Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 400HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (registry code 03013, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2555 - Airframe hours: 6645 - Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Smith Helicopters, Inc. - Registered owner: Smith Helicopters, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 19, 1992, 80 hours before - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 4,600 total, 1,300 in this make and model, 4,300 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 61 in the last 30 days, 12 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 5 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F ## 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 19930617019449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930617019449A), Jun 17, 1993: Bell 206B3, Stoneyford, CA, Substantial damage. During aerial taxi in mountain terrain a wind gust caused tailboom to hit ground. Yawed settled hard in a creek. ## Other investigations on N38EA (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR11TA274](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11TA274), Jun 21, 2011: Bell 206B (N38EA), Franklin, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm during the practice autorotation. 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.