# NTSB MIA06CA096: Eurocopter Deutschland EC135T2, N914EF, Bonifay, FL, April 21, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 21, 2006, 03:06 local (08:06 UTC) - Place: Bonifay, FL - Coordinates: 30.845556, -85.616111 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8456&lon=-85.6161&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FSDO-09 Birmingham, Alabama - NTSB case key (mKey): 63573 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA06CA096 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63573/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=63573 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA06CA096 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain main rotor rpm and proper descent rate resulting in a hard landing. A related factor in this accident was inadvertent encounter with clouds. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor) - Hard landing, descent - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot stated that the helicopter was brought to a hover and began acceleration down runway 19 for the takeoff. At approximately 100 feet above the ground, while at 100 kts, with no visible warning, he entered clouds but the runway was still visible underneath. He started to abort and began a level deceleration. Immediately afterwards he lowered the collective, and the paramedic in the front seat said " Rotor RPM" and he looked inside to see what was happening. When he looked back outside the helicopter, about a second later, his first visible reference was trees and bushes rapidly approaching. He pulled max torque and within 1 or 2 seconds the helicopter landed level and hard, just off the side at the very end of the runway. The helicopter bounced into the air after the impact. He brought the helicopter to a hover and noted the helicopter was dangerously close to bushes and trees. He maneuvered the helicopter away from the tree line toward the runway and landed at the helipad. After landing, the right rear of the helicopter was noted lower than normal. Everyone onboard exited the helicopter without assistance. The operator stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter or any of its systems prior to the accident. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident stated that the landing skids were splayed outwards with the apparent appearance of a hard landing. Damage to the helicopter was noted to the bottom of the enclosure surrounding the tail rotor blade. ## Factual narrative On April 21, 2006, about 0306 central daylight time, a Eurocopter EC135T2, N914EF, registered to Fifth Third Leasing Co. and operated by CJ Systems Aviation Group, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight, had a hard landing at the Tri-County Airport Bonifay, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot and one of the two paramedics onboard were not injured, the second paramedic received minor injuries, and the helicopter incurred substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time. The pilot stated that the helicopter was brought to a hover and began acceleration down runway 19 for the takeoff. At approximately 100 feet above the ground, while at 100 kts, with no visible warning, he entered clouds but the runway was still visible underneath. He started an abort and began a level deceleration. Immediately after he lowered the collective the paramedic in the front seat said " Rotor RPM" and he looked inside to see what was happening. When he looked back outside the helicopter, about a second later, his first visible reference was trees and bushes rapidly approaching. He pulled max torque and within 1 or 2 seconds the helicopter landed level and hard, just off the side at the very end of the runway. The helicopter bounced into the air after the impact. He brought the helicopter to a hover and noted the helicopter was dangerously close to bushes and trees. He maneuvered the helicopter away from the tree line toward the runway and landed at the helipad. After landing, the right rear of the helicopter was noted lower then normal. Everyone onboard exited the helicopter without assists. The operator stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the helicopter or any of its systems prior to the accident. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident stated that the landing skids were splayed outwards with the apparent appearance of a hard landing. Damage to the helicopter was noted to the bottom of the enclosure surrounding the tail rotor blade. ## Aircraft - Registration: N914EF (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Eurocopter Deutschland EC135T2 - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0440 - Engines: Turbomeca Arrius 2B2 turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: CJ Systems Aviation Group - Registered owner: Fifth Third Leasing Co. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Bonifay, FL - Destination: K54J, DeFuniak Spring, FL - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: 1J0, Tri-County Airport, runway 19, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2; last flight review April 1, 2006; flight hours: 4,316 total, 12 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 210° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DHN ## 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 20060421005089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060421005089A), Apr 21, 2006: Urocop EC135T2, Bonifay, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft entered fog bank on departure from runway 19 bonafay, FL, pilot aborted flight and attempted landing back on departing runway, pilot became… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 24, 2006, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=63573. 571 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 403 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40260347&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports: Pilot's Statement. (item 2, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40260348&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports%3A%20Pilot%27s%20Statement.-Master.PDF - Passenger Statement: Paramedics Statement. (item 3, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40260349&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement%3A%20Paramedics%20Statement.-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies: FAA Inspector's Statement. (item 4, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40260383&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies%3A%20FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement.-Redacted.PDF 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.