# NTSB MIA95LA044: Bell 206B, N163BH, Miami, FL, December 20, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 20, 1994, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Miami, FL - Coordinates: 25.650592, -80.409027 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.6506&lon=-80.4090&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 14, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37712 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA044 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37712/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA044 ## Probable cause INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (CFI) FOR FAILURE TO NOTE REDUCTION IN CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE TAIL ROTOR AND AN EMBANKMENT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, hover - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment - clearance - not maintained, dual student - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis WHILE OPERATING ON WATER THE PASSENGER NOTED THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS DRIFTING SOUTH TOWARDS AN EMBANKMENT. HE ANNOUNCED THIS OVER THE INTERCOM AND THE DUAL STUDENT LIFTED THE HELICOPTER TO HOVER DURING WHICH THE TAIL ROTOR CONTACTED THE EMBANKMENT. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE CFI TOOK THE CONTROLS AND PERFORMED AN UNEVENTFUL AUTOROTATIVE LANDING TO THE WATER. BEFORE THE FLIGHT THE HELICOPTER RATED STUDENT ADVISED THE CFI THAT HE DID NOT HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE OPERATING A HELICOPTER EQUIPPED WITH FLOATS. ## Factual narrative On December 20, 1994, about 1515 eastern standard time, a fixed float-equipped Bell 206B, N163BH, registered to and operated by Biscayne Helicopters, collided with an embankment of a quarry about 4 nautical miles northwest of the Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport, Miami, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The helicopter was substantially damaged and the certified flight instructor (CFI), helicopter-rated student, and passenger were not injured. The flight originated about 1500 from the Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport, Miami, Florida. Before the flight the student advised the CFI that he did not have any experience operating a helicopter equipped with floats. The flight departed and proceeded direct to the quarry. The student stated that after landing on the water near the south side of the quarry, he performed water maneuvers as directed by the CFI. While facing north, the passenger observed that the helicopter was drifting south and announced this over the intercom. The student lifted to hover during which the tail rotor contacted the embankment and directional control was lost. The CFI stated that he took over the controls, maneuvered the helicopter away from the embankment and performed a hovering autorotation to the water. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed tail rotor blade and tail boom damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N163BH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N163BH-2005-02-01), registration cancelled 2005-02-01, S/N 3027, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206B - Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 317HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-317hp) (registry code 03011, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3027 - Airframe hours: 4222 - Engines: ALLISON 250-C20J 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Biscayne Helicopters - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 20, 1994, 1 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 11,000 total, 850 in this make and model, 9,000 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TMB, 5 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 19941220044069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941220044069A), Dec 20, 1994: Bell 206B, Miami, FL, Substantial damage. Landed on quarry water. CFI advised chopper drifting. Student lifted to hover. Tail rotor struck embankment. 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.