# NTSB WPR13CA329: Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, N123HP, Inyokern, CA, July 13, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 13, 2013, 12:40 local (19:40 UTC)
- Place: Inyokern, CA
- Coordinates: 35.658611, -117.829444 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6586&lon=-117.8294&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 2, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 87484
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA329
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87484/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87484
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA329

## Probable cause

The failure of the pilot to maintain aircraft control during a practice autorotation maneuver and the pilot providing training's delayed remedial action which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the lack of communication between the two pilots.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=1182107), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1182107), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Communication (personnel): lack of communication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510/cases.md?model=1182107), [All aircraft, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1182107), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During a flight for the purpose of the pilot to acquire the minimum flight hours to act as pilot-in-command, he and a pilot providing training (who was not a flight instructor) of the helicopter were practicing autorotation's from flight to a power recovery. The pilot providing training stated that on the fourth autorotation the pilot allowed the rotor rpm to decay and then froze on the controls, not allowing him to increase the throttle. He was able to level the helicopter; however, it landed hard and the main rotor blades struck and severed the tail boom. The pilot reported that at the initiation of the maneuver, the pilot providing training rolled the throttle off, and the downwind glide was established. The pilot stated that as he leveled the helicopter and collective was pulled, he realized that the engine was not completely back on line. The pilot providing training subsequently took over the flight controls and flew the helicopter to the ground. Both pilots reported the need for better verbal commands or stating intentions throughout the maneuver. Neither pilot reported a preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

During a flight for the purpose of the second pilot to acquire the minimum flight hours to act as pilot-in-command, he and the owner of the helicopter were practicing autorotation's from flight to a power recovery. The owner stated that on the fourth autorotation the second pilot allowed the rotor rpm to decay and then froze on the controls, not allowing him to increase the throttle. He was able to level the helicopter; however, it landed hard and the main rotor blades struck and severed the tail boom.The second pilot reported that at the initiation of the maneuver, the owner rolled the throttle off, and the downwind glide was established. The second pilot stated that as he leveled the helicopter and collective was pulled, he realized that the engine was not completely back on line. The owner subsequently took over the flight controls and flew the helicopter to the ground. Both pilots reported the need for better verbal commands or stating intentions throughout the maneuver. Neither pilot reported a preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N123HP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N123HP), registered now, S/N 45394, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON 206L-1
- Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (registry code 1182107) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C40B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c40b) (registry code 54525, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 45394
- Engines: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C40B 715 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Operator: Southwest Heliservices LLC
- Registered owner: Southwest Heliservices LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: IYK, Inyokern, CA
- Destination: IYK, Inyokern, CA
- Airport: IYK, Inyokern, runway 28, 4,150 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; airline transport; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 15, 2013; seat: left; flight hours: 19,418 total, 4,900 in this make and model, 112 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 4.5 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 15, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 1,821 total, 1 in this make and model, 43 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 5 knots, gusting 3
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Observed at: IYK

## 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 20130713013229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130713013229A), Jul 13, 2013: Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, Inyokern, CA, Substantial damage. While performing a 180° auto rotation for company training, the PIC was unable to recover from a low power setting. The helicopter made hard contact with the…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 20, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87484. 2.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - GEzell (item 1, .PDF, 858 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404427&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20GEzell-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404429&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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.

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