# NTSB WPR21LA133: Bell 206, N6133C, Lucerne Valley, CA, March 16, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 16, 2021, 07:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Lucerne Valley, CA - Coordinates: 34.442796, -116.68425 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4428&lon=-116.6843&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 102763 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA133 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102763/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102763 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA133 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering with a tailwind, resulting in the helicopter spinning and colliding with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206L-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=1182108), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206L-3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1182108), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Bell 206L-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=1182108), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/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 206L-3, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1182108), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206L-3, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1182108), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he departed from a dry lakebed with the intention of making a local flight for the passenger to photograph the area. He noted that the wind was from the southwest between 12-15 kts. After departure, the pilot was maneuvering the helicopter to the southeast about 300 ft above ground level (agl), where he was using the helicopter controls to compensate for a tailwind. The helicopter began to yaw to the right and the pilot attempted to regain control by applying full left pedal. Despite his attempts, the helicopter continued to rotate, and the yaw rate was increasing in speed. The helicopter descended and when it neared the ground, the pilot flared to cushion the touchdown for the rapid descent rate. The tail collided with the ground, followed by the skids contacting the desert floor hard; the helicopter came to rest on its right side. The fuselage and tail boom were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6133C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6133C), registered now, S/N 51544, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206 (L3) - Registry model: [Bell 206L-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l-3) (registry code 1182108) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C30 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c30-series) (registry code 03015, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 51544 - Year built: 1991 - Airframe hours: 3620 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250-C30P 700 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Redlands Heliflight LLC - Registered owner: Redlands Heliflight LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 11, 2020, 26 hours before - Departed: Lucern Valley, CA - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: minor; private; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 30, 2020; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 555 total, 35 in this make and model, 511 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: KL35, 14 nm away - METAR: KL35 161455Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM M04/M09 A2989 RMK AO2 ## 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 20210316005689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210316005689A), Mar 16, 2021: Bell 206L-3, Lucerne Valley, CA, Substantial damage. The pilot reported that while flying in a southwesterly direction a gust of wind caused the nose of the aircraft to yaw to the right, which the pilot attempted… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 1, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102763. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12119621&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Z%20-%20Attachment%2001%20-%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photograph of helicopter (photo provided by the pilot) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 210 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12119150&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Z-%20Attachment%2002%20-Photos-Rel.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. --- 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.