# NTSB MIA87FA176: Bell 206L-1, N3177L, Winter Haven, FL, June 10, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 10, 1987, 18:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place: Winter Haven, FL
- Location: 28.0629° N, 81.7533° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at WINTER HAVEN RGNL (GIF), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0629&lon=-81.7533&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 7, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31764
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87FA176
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31764/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87FA176

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - turboshaft engine - loss,partial (cause)
  - turboshaft engine - undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH THE ENGINE BEGAN SURGING AND LOSING POWER. HE ATTEMPTED TO STRETCH THE GLIDE AND THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD, SHORT OF THE INTENDED POINT OF TOUCHDOWN. THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED, EXAMINED, PARTIALLY DISASSEMBLED AND TEST RUN. NO REASON FOR THE POWER LOSS COULD BE DETERMINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3177L (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L-1
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 45771
- Airframe hours: 863
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C28B 300 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: All American Helicopters
- Registered owner: All Amerrican Helicopters Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 26, 1987, 74 hours before
- Airport: GIF, Polk

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 4,851 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 4,207 as pilot in command, 102 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAL, 21 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 19870610019959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870610019959A), Jun 10, 1987: Bell 206L1, Winter Haven, FL, Substantial damage. Pilot reported engine surged and lost power on approach to the helipad. Made hard landing. Chopped off tail boom.

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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