- Date
- May 20, 1994, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place
- Ukiah, CA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N206HSBell 206A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 14, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940520012259A
- Case key
- 28743
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing wind conditions which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness event and a subsequent loss of directional control.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that he was on approach to a ridge line landing zone. He said he was passing through translational lift at 20 knots and 70 feet when a gust of wind induced a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and a resultant loss of directional control. The pilot reported that the helicopter began to spin and he could not regain directional control prior to ground contact. After the impact sequence, a ground fire erupted which consumed the helicopter. The helicopter was an early model Bell 206A and was equipped with the small tail rotor.
Factual narrative
On May 20, 1994, at 1530 Pacific daylight time, a Bell 206A helicopter, N206HS, collided with the ground near Ukiah, California, following a loss of control during a landing approach. The helicopter was operated by the pilot and was on a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The helicopter was consumed by a postimpact ground fire. The certificated private pilot and the passenger sustained minor injuries.
The flight originated from a private helipad near Piercy, California, about 1445 hours on the day of the accident as a personal flight to a private helipad at the accident site.
In a telephone conversation, the pilot stated that he was on approach to a ridge line landing zone. He said he was passing through translational lift at 20 knots and 70 feet above ground when a gust of wind induced a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and a resultant loss of directional control. The pilot reported that the helicopter began to spin and he could not regain directional control prior to ground contact. After the impact sequence, a ground fire erupted which consumed the helicopter.
The helicopter was an early model Bell 206A and was equipped with the small tail rotor.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N206HS
- Reported as
- Bell 206A
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 526
- Airframe hours
- 8,770
- Engine
- Allison 250 C18, 317 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Petersen, Dane A.
- Registered owner
- Helix Airtrek, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 2, 1994 · 12 hours before
- Departed
- NONE · Piercy, CA
- Airport
- NONE · Private Helipad
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Certificate
- Private
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 126 total · 59 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.