# NTSB NYC02LA105: Bell 206, N820H, Columbus, OH, May 30, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 30, 2002, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Columbus, OH - Coordinates: 40.079723, -83.073059 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0797&lon=-83.0731&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54808 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA105 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54808/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54808 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA105 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's delay in applying remedial action. A factor in the accident was the pilot allowing the rotor rpm to become too low during the deceleration and touchdown phase of the autorotation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - rotor rpm - low, dual student (contributing factor) ## Analysis During an instructional flight, the flight instructor rolled the throttle to idle. The pilot lowered the collective and entered an autorotation. At first, the pilot did not think he was going to make his intended touchdown point, and wanted to increase airspeed, but the instructor told him to slow the helicopter to 50 knots. The pilot applied aft cyclic, and airspeed decreased to about 40 knots. The pilot was now sure he would not make his intended touchdown point by maintaining 50 knots, so he lowered the nose. As airspeed increased, the pilot realized he was going to overshoot, so he initiated a left, and then a right turn to lose altitude. The pilot initiated a flare, applied initial collective, and then used additional collective to cushion the landing. Rotor RPM decayed during the landing sequence, and the helicopter touched down hard on the aft part of the skids, and then rocked forward, doing substantial damage to the tailboom, and main transmission mounts. ## Factual narrative On May 30, 2002, at 0930 eastern daylight time, a Bell 206 helicopter, N820H, owned and operated by the Ohio Department of Transportation, was substantially damaged during a practice touchdown autorotation at the Ohio State University Airport (OSU), Columbus, Ohio. The certificated flight instructor, and airline transport pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. A flight plan was not filed, and the instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot receiving instruction, he and a Bell Helicopter employed flight instructor were scheduled for a training flight on the day of the accident. They met about 0745, had a general conversation, and then went to the helicopter about 0815 to start the preflight. The two pilots completed the preflight, and then boarded the helicopter. The instructor occupied the left seat, and the pilot occupied the right. Once onboard, the instructor briefed the pilot on the training goals for the flight, and how the maneuvers would be conducted. The pilot then started the engine, initiated a hover, and taxied the helicopter to the intersection of taxiway "G" and "F" for a north-northwest departure. Once airborne, the pilot climbed the helicopter to 2,000 feet agl, and completed three autorotations. All three autorotations terminated at altitude with a power recovery, and during the maneuvers, rotor RPM remained within normal operating limits. Satisfied with the autorotational characteristics of the helicopter, they returned to the airport to continue the training. The pilot first performed a normal approach and progressed to autorotations. The pilot had completed approximately eight hovering autorotations, and six touchdown autorotations prior to the accident. The accident autorotation started with the pilot executing a normal approach. During the approach, and while the helicopter was descending through 300 feet agl, the instructor rolled the throttle to idle. The pilot lowered the collective and entered an autorotation. At first, he did not think he was going to make his intended touchdown point, and wanted to increase airspeed, but the instructor told him to slow the helicopter to 50 knots. The pilot applied aft cyclic, and airspeed decreased to about 40 knots. The pilot was now sure he would not make his intended touchdown point by maintaining 50 knots, so he lowered the nose. As airspeed increased, the pilot realized he was going to overshoot, so he initiated a left, and then a right turn to lose altitude. The pilot initiated a flare, applied initial collective, and then used additional collective to cushion the landing. Rotor RPM decayed during the landing sequence, and the helicopter touched down hard on the aft part of the skids. The pilot then instinctively applied aft cyclic, which the instructor was unable to prevent. The helicopter came to rest upright, and the pilots exited under their own power. Examination of the helicopter revealed substantial damage to the tailboom, and main transmission mounts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N820H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N820H), registered now, S/N 2079, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 206 - Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-canada-206b) (registry code 1181519) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C20 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (registry code 03020, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2079 - Airframe hours: 6946.8 - Engines: Allison C20B 317 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ohio Department of Transportation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 7, 2001, 5.9 hours before - Departed: OSU, Columbus, OH - Destination: OSU - Airport: OSU, Ohio State University ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 39; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 30, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 4,100 total, 3,700 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 8, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 26,223 total, 3,900 in this make and model, 23,200 as pilot in command, 149 in the last 90 days, 86 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 4 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: OSU ## 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 20020530037919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020530037919A), May 30, 2002: Bell 206B, Columbus, OH, Substantial damage. (-23) This public use aircraft was under the operational control of the Ohio department of transportation. The commercial flight instructor (Mr. Vey) stated… ## Other investigations on N820H (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 ERA21LA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA126), Feb 4, 2021: Bell 206 (N820H), Pahokee, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of main rotor rpm for reasons that could not be determined, which resulted in an autorotation and a subsequent hard landing and rollover. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 15, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54808. 653 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 322 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440096&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandums for Record (item 2, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40181428&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandums%20for%20Record-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440097&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Police Report (item 4, .PDF, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440098&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Police%20Report-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.