# NTSB MIA00LA227: Bell 206A-1, N136C, Bennettsville, SC, July 22, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 22, 2000, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Bennettsville, SC - Coordinates: 34.630798, -79.6791 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6308&lon=-79.6791&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49799 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA227 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49799/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA227 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to use proper remedial action to counteract a loss of tail rotor effectiveness resulting in collision with terrain during the subsequent uncontrolled descent. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, hover - in ground effect - loss of tail rotor effectiveness - encountered, pilot in command - remedial action - improper, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - grass ## Analysis According to the pilot and one passenger, the rotorcraft lifted off the airstrip to about a 2 to 3 foot hover, and immediately commenced a violent right spin that terminated with the landing skid and nose colliding with the terrain. The main rotor severed the tail boom and collided with the terrain, resulting in the rotorcraft rolling over on its right side. The FAA reported the wreckage revealed no evidence of mechanical failure, and that the rotorcraft was within its maximum takeoff weight and loading limits. The density altitude was 2,206 feet. ## Factual narrative On July 22, 2000, about 1300 eastern daylight time, an experimental Bell OH-58A, (206A-1), N136C, registered to a private individual, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed on liftoff in the vicinity of Bennettsville, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The rotorcraft received substantial damage, the private-rated pilot and one passenger received minor injuries and one passenger was not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, during his liftoff from a private airstrip, the rotorcraft entered a violent right spin despite application of full left anti-torque control input. The right landing skid struck the ground and the rotorcraft came to rest on its right side. The pilot lists his total flight time in rotorcraft as 47.45 hours. He lists his total flight time in the OH-58A, (206A-1) type rotorcraft as 15.75 hours, all within the last 90 days. He stated the winds prevailing at the time of his liftoff as, 090 degrees at 3 knots, and the weight of occupants aboard to be about 662 lbs. and fuel aboard to be about 480 lbs. Witnesses stated that the helicopter lifted straight up about 2 to 3 feet and spun sharply to the right two complete revolutions. The gyrations continued until the nose struck the ground, the rotor blades collided with the ground and the tail boom, and the rotorcraft came to rest on its right side. According to FAA inspectors, examination of the helicopter's data plate showed the model as a Canadian military surplus Bell OH-58A, (Bell 206A), serial no. 44017, customer no. 136217 TC H2SW. Records revealed the helicopter had been recently acquired by the pilot/operator who had been issued a special airworthiness certificate on March 23, 2000 in the experimental category for purposes of exhibition. A copy of the airworthiness certificate and the operating limitations is an attachment to this report. The inspectors further stated that the helicopter's tail boom was found severed due to main rotor strike, and about 2 feet of one rotor blade was missing. No evidence of precrash mechanical malfunction or material failure could be found in the controls, engine, transmission, clutch, or blades. A weight and balance calculation was completed using the known conditions. The FAA reported, "The calculations indicate that the helicopter was within maximum weight limits and center of gravity envelope". The computed density altitude for the atmospheric conditions existing at the time of the flight's liftoff was 2,206 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N136C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N136C-2023-02-04), registration cancelled 2023-02-04, S/N 44017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 206A-1 - Registry model: [Bell 206A-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206a-1) (registry code 1181510) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison T63 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-t63-series) (registry code 03031, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 44017 - Airframe hours: 12214 - Engines: Allison T-63-A700B 330 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Joe F. Cook - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 1999, 11 hours before - Destination: PYG, PAGELAND, SC - Airport: runway 13, 2,400 × 80 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 573 total, 483 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FLO, 30 nm away ## 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 20000722020829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000722020829A), Jul 22, 2000: Bell 206A1, Bennettsville, NC, Substantial damage. (-23)The pilot lost control on lift off. The aircraft made a hard swerving right turn and landed on right side resulting in substantial damage. The aircraft… 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.