# NTSB NYC95LA198: Bell 206B, N16915, Bingham, ME, August 18, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 18, 1995, 08:00 local (12:00 UTC) - Place: Bingham, ME - Location: 45.0581° N, 69.8731° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bingham, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0581&lon=-69.8731&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39033 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA198 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39033/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA198 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate landing flare resulting in a hard landing and roll over, and a subsequent collision with trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown - object - tree(s) ## Analysis THE PILOT HAD BEEN CONDUCTING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT. DURING THE THIRD APPROACH TO LANDING, THE LEFT SKID TOUCHED DOWN FIRST, AND THEN THE RIGHT SKID FOLLOWED BY THE HELICOPTER ROLLING TO THE RIGHT AND COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES, AND THE FAA INSPECTOR STATED, 'INVESTIGATION OF THE WRECKAGE AT THE CRASH SITE...YIELDED NO MECHANICAL OR STRUCTURAL FAILURE FINDINGS.' ## Factual narrative On August 18, 1995, about 0800 eastern daylight time, a Bell 206B, helicopter, N16915, operated by Helicopter Transport Services Inc., was destroyed when it rolled over during landing near Bingham, Maine. The commercial pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flight. No flight plan had been filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 137. In the NTSB form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated: On landing at loading site, the left skid touched down normally. Then the aircraft rolled hard right. The right skid and boom hit the ground, and in attempting to stop a roll over there was a bang followed by control feedback (cyclic) and rotation to the right. Control was not regained before impacting trees. Additionally, the pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector stated: ...From an eye witness, it was stated...the pilot on his first two landings came in high and fast. His flare also appeared to be abnormal. It was...thought that there may be mechanical problems, but this thought was erased when the aircraft took off after reloading. On the third return to the landing area, the helicopter was observed to have hit hard on the left skid, bounced forward and hit hard on the right skid. Observation of the landing area confirmed this finding. It was noted that the left skid shoe dug a deep groove in the hard packed gravel. ...Investigation of the wreckage at the crash site by the FAA and a Bell Helicopter Textron accident investigator yielded no mechanical or structural failure findings....The collective stick and the three hydraulic servos were shipped to Bell Helicopter Textron in Dallas, Texas for metallurgical testing and functional testing. The servos were found to be functional with no discrepancies noted....The collective stick was broken to the left and downward in a tension overload condition. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N16915](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16915-2013-04-10), registration cancelled 2013-04-10, S/N 2294, built 1977 (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-C20 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (registry code 03020, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2294 - Airframe hours: 8981 - Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 317 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Helicopter Transport Services - Registered owner: Helicopter Transport Services - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 22, 1995, 14 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 11,184 total, 2,130 in this make and model, 10,882 as pilot in command, 140 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19950818025549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950818025549A), Aug 18, 1995: Bell 206B3, Bingham, ME, Destroyed. Came in high and fast failed to flare. Impacted left skid bounced came down right skid and rolled over. 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.