# NTSB SEA08CA037: Bell 206A, N123SD, Twin Falls, ID, November 21, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 21, 2007, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Twin Falls, ID
- Coordinates: 42.481945, -114.471107
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4819&lon=-114.4711&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67157
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08CA037
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67157/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA037

## Probable cause

The pilot misjudged the flare which resulted in a hard landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot indicated that the purpose of the flight was to finish the post annual flight check and to check the autorotational rpm during a simulated engine out condition.  The pilot was flying in the left seat and there was an observer in the right seat.  He entered a 180-degree autorotation and at 70 feet above ground level, began a gradual flare.  During the flare, the helicopter contacted the asphalt surface of the taxiway.  The helicopter hopped and then came to a stop.  The pilot initiated another pattern and power recovery autorotation.  He then hover taxied to the maintenance hangar ramp area and performed a normal shutdown.  Post flight inspection revealed a wrinkle in the tail boom.

## Factual narrative

The pilot indicated that the purpose of the flight was to finish the post annual flight check and to check the autorotational rpm during a simulated engine out condition.  The pilot was flying in the left seat and there was an observer in the right seat.  He entered a 180-degree autorotation and at 70 feet above ground level, began a gradual flare.  During the flare, the helicopter contacted the asphalt surface of the taxiway.  The helicopter hopped and then came to a stop.  The pilot initiated another pattern and power recovery autorotation.  He then hover taxied to the maintenance hangar ramp area and performed a normal shutdown.  Post flight inspection revealed a wrinkle in the tail boom.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N123SD (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Bell 206A
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: MB-1
- Engines: Allison 250-C20B turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Gerald Haye
- Registered owner: Stutzman Leasing LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: TWF, Twin Falls, ID
- Airport: TWF, Joslin Field

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 5,531 total, 900 in this make and model, 73 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.42 inHg
- Observed at: TWF

## 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 20071121826959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071121826959A), Nov 21, 2007: Bell OH58A, Twin Falls, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) The instructor pilot in command was teaching hovering autorotation maneuvers when the aircraft struck the ground very hard causing damage to the tail…

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.