# NTSB LAX94LA139: Bell 206B, N50PE, Agua Dulce, CA, February 27, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 27, 1994, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Agua Dulce, CA
- Coordinates: 34.429576, -118.510208 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4296&lon=-118.5102&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 28677
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA139
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28677/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA139

## Probable cause

THE CFI'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN TO DEMONSTRATE A SIMULATED AUTOROTATION. THE SOFT TERRAIN WAS A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose down, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - autorotation - simulated, pilot in command(cfi)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)

## Analysis

THE CFI WAS DEMONSTRATING A HOVERING AUTOROTATION TO THE DUAL STUDENT.  BEFORE BEGINNING THE AUTOROTATION, THE CFI FAILED TO ASSURE THE LANDING SURFACE WAS HARD PACKED AND NOT SOFT.  WHEN THE HELICOPTER WAS BETWEEN 3- AND 5-FEET SKID HEIGHT ABOVE THE GROUND, THE CFI CLOSED THE THROTTLE AND LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD.  THE HELICOPTER SLID ABOUT 5 FEET BEFORE THE LANDING SKIDS DUG INTO THE SOFT TERRAIN, NOSING THE HELICOPTER DOWN.  THE  HELICOPTER'S MAIN ROTOR BLADES SEVERED THE TAILBOOM ASSEMBLY.

## Factual narrative

On February 27, 1994, at 1100 hours Pacific standard time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N50PE, main rotor blades severed the tailboom assembly while demonstrating a hovering autorotation at Agua Dulce Airport, Agua Dulce, California.  The pilots were conducting a local visual flight rules instructional flight.  The helicopter, registered to and operated by the dual student pilot, sustained substantial damage.  Neither the certificated commercial pilot/flight instructor, the dual student pilot, nor the two passengers were injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  The flight originated at Van Nuys Airport, Van Nuys, California, at 0930 hours.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies reported that during the autorotation the helicopter slid about 5 feet in the soft, sandy terrain.  During the slide, the front (toe) of the main skids dug into the soft terrain precipitating the nose-down condition.  The main rotor blades severed the tailboom and the helicopter settled onto its landing skids with no further damage.

The pilot submitted the required Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, to the National Transportation Safety Board, Southwest Regional Office.  The pilot confirmed the Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies' report and added that the hovering altitude was between 3- and 5-feet skid height above the ground.  He also said the terrain was grass and dirt.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N50PE (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1992
- Airframe hours: 7128
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 400 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Helinet, Inc., doing business as Rotorcraft Support, Inc.
- Registered owner: Lennox Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 19, 1994, 34 hours before
- Departed: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,143 total, 348 in this make and model, 2,071 as pilot in command, 189 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °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 19940227002969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940227002969A), Feb 27, 1994: Bell 206B, Agua Dulce, CA, Substantial damage. Autorotation to hover. Skids dug in soft dirt. Nosed down. Rotors chopped off tailboom. Slid 5 ft forward in hover.

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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