# NTSB LAX94LA078: Bell 206B, N162BC, Las Vegas, NV, December 24, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 24, 1993, 01:30 local (09:30 UTC)
- Place: Las Vegas, NV
- Coordinates: 36.10955, -115.20977 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1095&lon=-115.2098&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 20, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 28625
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA078
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28625/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA078

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to properly position the helicopter away from the dolly edge during the initial touchdown.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - aerial
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that after landing on a wheeled dolly, he decided to move the helicopter closer to the center of the dolly.  The pilot said that he moved the collective to pick the helicopter up and it 'fell backwards off the dolly,' bending the tailboom, and damaging the tail rotor.

## Factual narrative

On December 24, 1993, at 0130 Pacific standard time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N162BC, sustained tailboom damage during repositioning on a private helipad in Las Vegas, Nevada.  The pilot reported that after landing on a wheeled dolly he decided to move the helicopter closer to the center of the dolly.  The pilot said that he moved the collective to pick the helicopter up and it "fell backwards off the dolly," bending the tailboom, and damaging the tail rotor.  The helicopter was operated by Las Vegas Helicopters, Inc., and was concluding a 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight at the time.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed.  The helicopter incurred substantial damage; however, the certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  The flight originated at the private helipad at 0055 on the day of the mishap as a local area air taxi flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N162BC (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2849
- Airframe hours: 6411
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Gerald J. Shlesinger, doing business as Las Vegas Helicopters, Inc.
- Registered owner: Gerald J. Shlesinger
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 14, 1993, 15 hours before
- Airport: NONE, Action Ranch Helipad

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 880 total, 689 in this make and model, 481 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days, 11 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 36 °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 19931224047409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931224047409A), Dec 24, 1993: Bell 206B, Las Vegas, NV, Substantial damage. Attempted to reposition helicopter on dolly. Raised cyclic. Fell backwards off dolly. Bent tailboom and tailrotor.

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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