# NTSB WPR23LA214: Bell 206B, N205PA, Filer, ID, June 3, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 3, 2023, 10:34 local (16:34 UTC) - Place: Filer, ID · private airstrip - Coordinates: 42.562778, -114.54916 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5628&lon=-114.5492&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 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): 192309 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA214 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192309/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192309 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA214 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper anti-torque pedal inputs during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control during takeoff and subsequent dynamic rollover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Bell 206B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/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 206B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot initially reported that while he was taking off, the tail dropped and hit the ground. After a postaccident review of a security video that captured the accident, the pilot along with his flight instructor concluded that he input excessive left anti-torque pedal as he increased collective. A National Transportation Safety Board review of the same security video showed the helicopter as it rotated counterclockwise about its vertical axis. The fuselage pivoted about the right skid and the helicopter exceeded its critical roll angle, which resulted in dynamic rollover. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and tailboom. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N205PA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N205PA), registered now, S/N 1996, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206B - Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 400HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (registry code 03013, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1996 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 12519.7 - Engines: Rolls-Royce 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2023, 2.4 hours before - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: minor; private; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 30, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 304 total, 167 in this make and model, 304 as pilot in command, 2.1 in the last 90 days, 2.1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.08 inHg - Observed at: KJER, 8 nm away - METAR: METAR KJER 031553Z AUTO 23005KT 10SM CLR 16/08 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP163 T01610083 ## 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 20230603006099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230603006099A), Jun 3, 2023: Bell 206B, Filer, ID, Substantial damage. As pilot pulled collective pitch, not realizing the amount of left torque pedal input he had applied, the aircrafts weight on skids decreased, the aircraft… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 26, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192309. 12.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15703235&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16237411&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA214%20RoC%20Dep%20Prudent-Rel.pdf - Reports from federal agencies - roc sknutz (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15704586&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=SKnutz%20RoC%20(FAA)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Security video of accident (item 4, MP4, 7.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16225335&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Accident%20Video-Rel.mp4 - Photos (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 202 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16225487&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo-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.