# NTSB SEA00LA101: Bell 206B, N49573, Bridgeport, WA, June 8, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 8, 2000, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Bridgeport, WA - Coordinates: 47.969154, -119.589302 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9692&lon=-119.5893&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 9, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49394 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA00LA101 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49394/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA101 ## Probable cause Aircraft control was not maintained. Inadequate remedial action and diverted attention were factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, standing - engine(s) operating - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Roll over, standing - engine(s) operating ## Analysis The pilot reported that after touching down in a gravel pit that was being used as a refueling staging area, he opened the door to looked to the rear to ensure that the tail rotors were clear of obstructions, and that the landing skids made full ground contact. When he looked back into the cockpit, the nose of the helicopter was coming up and the helicopter was rocking back on the skids. The pilot applied forward cyclic control, when he felt the aft end of the landing skids lift off. The pilot does not recall his corrective actions after this, only that everything was in motion. The helicopter subsequently rolled over and came to rest on its left side. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On June 8, 2000, approximately 1230 Pacific daylight time, a Bell 206B, N49573, registered to and operated by Cascade Helicopters as a 14 CFR Part 91 flight, rolled over shortly after touchdown in a gravel pit near Bridgeport, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. The flight departed from a field near Orondo, Washington, approximately 5 minutes prior to the accident. The operator of the helicopter reported that the pilot had just landed the helicopter in a gravel pit that was to be used as a refueling staging area for the aerial cherry tree drying operation. The pilot reported that after the helicopter landed, he opened the door and looked to the rear to ensure that the tail rotor was clear of obstructions and that the landing skids made full ground contact. When the pilot looked back into the cockpit, the nose of the helicopter was coming up and the helicopter was rocking back on the skids. The pilot applied forward cyclic control to lower the nose of the helicopter, when he felt the aft end of the landing skids lift off. The pilot stated that he does not recall his corrective actions after this, only that "very suddenly everything was in motion, then a feeling of impact." The helicopter subsequently rolled over and came to rest on its left side. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N49573](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N49573-2001-03-27), registration cancelled 2001-03-27, S/N 1665 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 206B - Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1665 - Airframe hours: 8210 - Engines: Allison 250C-20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: Cascade Helicopters - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 7, 2000 - Departed: ORONDO, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 15,550 total, 5,388 in this make and model, 14,950 as pilot in command, 105 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: OMK, 22 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 20000608011049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000608011049A), Jun 8, 2000: Bell 206B, Bridgeport, WA, No damage. (-23) Airman had just landed helicopter ina large depression (approx. 1 acre) that was being used as a field refueling site. The area was sporadically covered… ## Other investigations on N49573 (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 SEA90LA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA90LA040), Feb 4, 1990: Bell 206B (N49573), Winthrop, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE FUEL AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT. DARKNESS AND THE OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA WERE RELATED FACTORS. 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.