# NTSB MIA91LA229: Bell 206B, N333FC, Vero Beach, FL, July 9, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 8, 1991, 21:00 local (Jul 9, 1991, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Vero Beach, FL
- Coordinates: 27.719034, -80.390625 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7190&lon=-80.3906&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 13, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32935
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA91LA229
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32935/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA91LA229

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER DESCENT RATE RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER WAS 4 MILES WEST OF AN ARPT WHEN THE FUEL PUMP WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS. THE PLT LANDED HARD RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE TAILBOOM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N333FC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N333FC), registered now, S/N 1763, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C20](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20) (registry code 54178, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1763
- Airframe hours: 3746
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C18 317 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Skyline Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Skyline Aviation, Inc.
- Last inspection: Annual, September 13, 1990, 70 hours before
- Departed: MCO, ORLANDO, FL
- Destination: SUA, STUART, FL
- Airport: VRB, Vero Beach Municipal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 3,500 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 3,500 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: VRB, 1 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 19910708061249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910708061249A), Jul 8, 1991: Bell 206B, Vero Beach, FL, Substantial damage. Reported forced landing due mechanical and passenger hit cyclic exiting. Mechanic reported damaged by hard landing.

## Other investigations on N333FC (1)

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.

- [NTSB MIA98LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA053), Jan 7, 1998: Bell 206B (N333FC), Pooler, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain a safe altitude and a visual lookout while operating under a special visual flight rules clearance in instrument flight rule conditions, which resulted in the…

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.