# NTSB WPR23LA059: Bell 206-L4, N2036F, Ft Worth, TX, December 7, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 7, 2022, 13:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place: Ft Worth, TX · Bell Helicopter Practice Area
- Coordinates: 32.797, -97.146 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7970&lon=-97.1460&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA - North Texas FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106430
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA059
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106430/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106430
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA059

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident, was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision.

## Findings

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

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206-L4, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=1182110), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206-L4, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1182110), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206-L4, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=1182110), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206-L4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=1182110), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206-L4, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1182110), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor reported that, during the instructional flight practicing autorotations, the pilot receiving instruction flared the helicopter in a more pronounced nose up attitude, an aft cyclic and higher descent rate, but not excessive enough to require him to take control. During the landing, the main rotor blades contacted the tail boom. The tail rotor driveshaft and vertical fins were substantially damaged during the landing. The flight instructor reported that there were no of preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would preclude normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2036F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2036F), registered now, S/N 52123, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206-L4
- Registry model: [Bell 206-L4](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206-l4) (registry code 1182110) (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: 52123
- Year built: 1995
- Airframe hours: 6183.9
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C30 SER 650 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Bell Textron Inc
- Registered owner: Bell Textron Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 25, 2022, 117 hours before
- Departed: 0TE2, Hurst, TX
- Destination: XS04, Fort Worth, TX
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: XS04, Bell South Airfield Airport, runway Lane 1, 1,600 × 55 ft
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 52; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 6,308 total, 330 in this make and model, 4,670 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 6,359 total, 0 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,100 ft overcast
- METAR: KDFW 071925Z 34008KT 4SM BR BKN019 OVC024 18/17 A3012 RMK AO2 WSHFT 1906

## 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 20221207022479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221207022479A), Dec 7, 2022: Bell 206-L4, Hurst, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot entered autorotation in a Bell 206L4 [privacy data omitted] at 1200 feet and maintained a normal glide and flair. A banging noise was herd comming from…

## Other investigations on N2036F (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 CEN13CA276](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA276), May 10, 2013: Bell 206-L4 (N2036F), Fort Worth, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action during a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 4, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106430. 2.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15352531&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N2036F%206120%20Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15355558&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20Pilot%20Instructor-Rel.pdf
- Photos - damage courtesy of bell helicopters (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 543 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15356137&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20-%20Damage-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.

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