# NTSB NYC97LA041: Bell 206A, N555SJ, Linden, NJ, January 3, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 3, 1997, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Linden, NJ - Location: 40.6174° N, 74.2446° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LINDEN (LDJ), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6174&lon=-74.2446&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39318 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA041 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39318/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA041 ## Probable cause the pilot allowing the rotor RPM to decay and his failure to take remedial action in time to recover the autorotation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - autorotation - performed, pilot in command - adequate rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot reported 'While practicing full autorotations I attempted to demonstrate a 180 degree autorotation to the ground to the owner of the aircraft, who is himself is a private helicopter pilot. While turning to the touchdown spot I noticed the RPM decaying, I attempted to recover the RPM by entering the flare early and prior to completing the turn, however the helicopter mushed through the flare and impacted the ground at a high rate of descent, and caused damage to the rear cross tube. After the immediate impact the helicopter became airborne again and collective application was used to conclude the auto with the helicopter in an upright position.' ## Factual narrative On January 3, 1997, at 1330 eastern standard time, a Bell 206A, N555SJ, sustained substantial damage from a hard landing while performing a practice touchdown autorotation at the Linden Airport (LDJ) near Linden, New Jersey. The airline transport rated pilot and the private pilot rated copilot, the sole occupants, reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The local instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 and originated at the Linden Airport at approximately 1300. The pilot reported, "While practicing full autorotations I attempted to demonstrate a 180 degree autorotation to the ground to the owner of the aircraft, who is himself a private helicopter pilot. While turning to the touchdown spot I noticed the RPM decaying, I attempted to recover the RPM by entering the flare early and prior to completing the turn, however the helicopter mushed through the flare and impacted the ground at a high rate of descent, and caused damage to the rear cross tube. After the immediate impact the helicopter became airborne again and collective application was used to conclude the auto with the helicopter in an upright position." The copilot reported, "While practicing full touchdown autos with my instructor ... he asked to demonstrate a 180 degree auto. With [the instructor] at the controls, he entered the auto and began his turn to the touchdown zone. As we completed the 180 degree turn to touchdown, I noticed that the aircraft's sink rate was unusually high. As he entered the flare, the aircraft did not respond very well to the flare and as he pulled collective to cushion the touchdown, the aircraft impacted the ground very hard. The aircraft came to rest about 100 yards from the touchdown spot after which we secured the aircraft and exited normally." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N555SJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N555SJ), registered now, S/N 308, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 206A - Registry model: [Bell 206A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206a) (registry code 1181508) (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: 308 - Engines: Allison 250 250 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Liberty Helicopters Inc - Registered owner: J C Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Airport: LDJ, Linden ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 10,000 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 8 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 14,000 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: EWR, 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 19970103000169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970103000169A), Jan 3, 1997: Bell 206A, Linden, NJ, Substantial damage. Aircraft was involved in auto rotation practice when it made a hard landing in a grassy area. 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.