# NTSB LAX97LA320: Bell 206B, N90115, Minden, NV, September 9, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 9, 1997, 15:35 local (22:35 UTC)
- Place: Minden, NV
- Coordinates: 39.010128, -119.749542 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0101&lon=-119.7495&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 7, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29900
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA320
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29900/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA320

## Probable cause

A hard landing due to the failure of the pilot to adequately compensate for the wind direction and velocity on initiating his approach to the landing area, resulting in a loss of tail rotor authority.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - loss of tail rotor effectiveness - encountered (cause)
- Hard landing, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - runway

## Analysis

The helicopter landed hard and a main rotor blade separated and struck a parked airplane.  At the time of the accident the winds were 190 to 250 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 23 knots.  As the pilot continued his approach to the landing pad in a northeasterly direction,  the helicopter yawed to the right and the pilot applied full left pedal and pulled collective.  The pilot stated that the engine was running fine, and he had experienced 'no unusual noise,' and that he had 'run out of tail rotor.'  Review of a relative wind chart shows the helicopter's heading during the approach to the pad placed it in an area of the chart where unanticipated right yaw might occur.

## Factual narrative

On September 9, 1997, at 1535 hours Pacific daylight time, a Bell 206B, N90115, experienced a hard landing and substantial damage on a parking area pad at the Minden, Nevada, airport.  Upon ground impact, a main rotor blade separated and struck a parked and unoccupied Cessna 182, causing substantial damage.  There were minor injuries to the pilot and one of the passengers.  The other two passengers were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time and no flight plan was on file.  The personal flight was terminating at the time.

FAA inspectors from the Reno Flight Standards District Office responded to the airport, interviewed the pilot, and inspected the aircraft.  At the time of the accident, the winds were 190 to 250 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 23 knots.  As the pilot continued his approach to the landing pad in a northeasterly direction,  the helicopter yawed to the right and the pilot applied full left pedal and pulled collective.  The pilot later told the inspectors that the engine was running fine, and he had experienced "no unusual noise," and that he had "run out of tail rotor."

A review of a relative wind chart provided by Bell Helicopter Textron shows that the helicopter's heading during the approach to the pad placed it in an area of the chart where unanticipated right yaw might occur.  The chart is appended to this report.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N90115 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Bell 206B
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1601
- Airframe hours: 11646
- Engines: Allison 250 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Palo Alto Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 28, 1997, 9 hours before
- Departed: TRK, TRUCKEE, CA
- Destination: MEV, NV
- Airport: MEV, Douglas County

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 1,159 total, 259 in this make and model, 1,027 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 15 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °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 19970909039609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970909039609A), Sep 9, 1997: Bell 206B, Minden, NV, Substantial damage. Lost tail rotor effect landing on helo pad. Pulled collective too soon. Had gusty tailwind.

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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