# NTSB MIA06LA061: Bell 206B, N6BR, Naples, FL, March 4, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 4, 2006, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Naples, FL - Coordinates: 26.1166666666667, -81.7030555555556 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1167&lon=-81.7031&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 63314 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA06LA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63314/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA06LA061 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable area to make a precautionary landing which resulted in the helicopter rolling into a ditch. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined - engine instruments,tachometer - underspeed - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot said that while in cruise flight he noted a reduction in the N2 needle, which was near 90, while the rotor needle was at 100 percent. He said he elected to make a precautionary landing in a clear area as quickly as possible, and he did so too close to a 10-foot wide irrigation ditch. He said he performed a soft landing but did not realize that the helicopter was so close to the ditch. After the helicopter sat for a while, he said that the sand in the rear must have collapsed under the helicopter's rear center of gravity because the nose of the helicopter started to rise slowly, as the helicopter started to slide backwards. According to the pilot, the tail of the helicopter struck the opposite side of the irrigation ditch and the helicopter pivoted to the right, and came to rest in the ditch, in about 15 inches of water. An FAA inspector conducted postcrash examinations of the helicopter with the assistance of representatives from Bell Helicopter Company and Rolls-Royce Engines, and no anomalies were noted with the helicopter or any of its systems. ## Factual narrative On March 4, 2006, about 1230 eastern standard time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N6BR, registered to and operated by a private individual as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, rolled into a ditch in a field after an emergency landing in Naples, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot was not injured, and the helicopter incurred substantial damage. The flight originated at Wings South Airpark, Naples, Florida, the same day, about 1200. The pilot said that while in cruise flight he noted a reduction in the N2 needle, which was near 90, while the rotor needle was at 100 percent. He said he had never seen that before while in cruise flight, and it concerned him a great deal since the land over which he was going to fly had a nest of crocodiles. He said he elected to make a precautionary landing in a clear area as quickly as possible, and he did so too close to a 10-foot wide irrigation ditch. He said he performed a soft landing but did not realize that the helicopter was so close to the ditch. After the helicopter sat for a while, he said that the sand in the rear must have collapsed under the helicopter's rear center of gravity because the nose of the helicopter started to rise slowly, as the helicopter started to slide backwards. According to the pilot, the tail of the helicopter struck the opposite side of the irrigation ditch and the helicopter pivoted to the right, and came to rest in the ditch, in about 15 inches of water. An FAA inspector conducted postcrash examinations of the helicopter with the assistance of representatives from Bell Helicopter Company and Rolls-Royce Engines, and no anomalies were noted with the helicopter or any of its systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: N6BR (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Bell 206B - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3851 - Airframe hours: 1792 - Engines: Rolls-Royce 250-C26J 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Nairn Aircraft LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 1, 2005 - Departed: FA37, Naples, FL - Destination: FA37 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review March 1, 2005; seat: right; flight hours: 10,000 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 9,000 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 45 °F - Observed at: APF ## 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 20060304002859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060304002859A), Mar 4, 2006: Bell 206B, Naples, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft departed wing south airport (FA37) enroute to marco (mky) for fuel when aircraft experienced loss in N2 (10% gradual drop) with no drop noticed… 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.