- Date
- January 12, 2008, 16:15 local (Jan 13, 2008, 00:15 UTC)
- Place
- La Verna, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N49588Bell 206 B2
- Defining event
- Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 28, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 67366
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper preflight planning which resulted in a jammed cyclic control while maneuvering.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that the helicopter was in a three-foot hover, moving forward, when control was lost and the helicopter collided with terrain. The pilot reported the left cyclic control was removed prior to the flight; however, the protective cover was not installed. He stated that during the accident flight, test equipment (used for track and balance) "became entangled" at the left cyclic attach point and prevented full cyclic control.
Factual narrative
The commercial pilot and mechanic were conducting a maintenance test flight to facilitate a dynamic track and balance of the main rotor system when the accident occurred. In a written statement, the pilot reported the helicopter was in a three-foot hover, moving forward, when control was lost. The helicopter subsequently collided with terrain resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported the left cyclic control was removed prior to the flight; however, the protective cover was not installed. He stated that during the accident flight, the test equipment (used for track and balance) "became entangled" at the left cyclic attach point and prevented full cyclic control.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N49588
- Reported as
- Bell 206 B2
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1726
- Engine
- Rolls-Royce 250 C-20B, 400 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Robert L. Miars
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- POC · La Verna, CA
- Destination
- POC · La Verna, CA
- Airport
- POC · Brackett Field, runway UNK
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 68
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3
- Flight hours
- 6,500 total · 2,200 in this make and model · 20 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F