Bell 206L-3 LongRanger III, State of Illinois, N721LL: Accident occurred September 07, 2013 in Amistad, New Mexico

http://registry.faa.gov/N721LL

NTSB Identification: CEN13TA535  
14 CFR Public Use
Accident occurred Saturday, September 07, 2013 in Amistad, NM
Aircraft: BELL 206L-3, registration: N721LL
Injuries: 2 Minor.

NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this public aircraft accident report.

On September 7, 2013, about 1530 mountain daylight time, a Bell Helicopter 206L-3, N721LL, impacted terrain after the pilot maneuvered to avoid birds during cruise flight near Amistad, New Mexico.  The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries.  The helicopter was substantially damaged.  The helicopter was registered to and operated by the State of Illinois under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a public use flight.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Dalhart Municipal Airport (DHT), Dalhart, Texas, about 1500.  The intended destination was the Albuquerque International Airport (ABQ), Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The pilot reported that the helicopter was established in cruise flight on a west-southwest course at 300 feet above ground level prior to the accident. The pilot and passenger were reportedly referencing a radiological monitoring system for proper operation during that timeframe. The pilot stated that about 25 minutes into the flight he observed “multiple large black birds” in the helicopter’s flight path and initiated an “immediate hard turn to the right” to avoid them. He subsequently noted an increase in main rotor speed and adjusted accordingly. The pilot rolled out on a reciprocal heading, leveled the helicopter, and began to slow down.  He noticed that the descent rate was not decreasing even though appropriate control inputs had been made. The helicopter touched down “hard” and seemed to bounce. The helicopter came to rest about 100 yards from the initial touchdown point. The pilot reported that there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the helicopter prior to the accident.

The wind recorded at the departure airport, at 1453, was from 170 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 21 knots.  At 1553, the wind was from 170 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 21 knots. The pilot reported a clear sky, with an unrestricted visibility of 20 miles and no turbulence.

NTSB Identification: CEN13TA535 
14 CFR Public Use
Accident occurred Saturday, September 07, 2013 in Amistad, NM
Aircraft: BELL 206L-3, registration: N721LL
Injuries: 2 Minor.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this public aircraft accident report.

On September 7, 2013, about 1530 mountain daylight time, a Bell Helicopter 206L-3, N721LL, impacted terrain after the pilot maneuvered to avoid birds during cruise flight near Amistad, New Mexico.  The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries.  The helicopter was substantially damaged.  The helicopter was registered to and operated by the State of Illinois under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a public use flight.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Dalhart Municipal Airport (DHT), Dalhart, Texas, about 1500.  The intended destination was the Albuquerque International Airport (ABQ), Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The pilot reported that the helicopter was established in cruise flight on a west-southwest course at 300 feet above ground level prior to the accident. The pilot and passenger were reportedly referencing a radiological monitoring system for proper operation during that timeframe. The pilot stated that about 25 minutes into the flight he observed “multiple large black birds” in the helicopter’s flight path and initiated an “immediate hard turn to the right” to avoid them. He subsequently noted an increase in main rotor speed and adjusted accordingly. The pilot rolled out on a reciprocal heading, leveled the helicopter, and began to slow down.  He noticed that the descent rate was not decreasing even though appropriate control inputs had been made. The helicopter touched down “hard” and seemed to bounce. The helicopter came to rest about 100 yards from the initial touchdown point. The pilot reported that there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the helicopter prior to the accident.

The wind recorded at the departure airport, at 1453, was from 170 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 21 knots.  At 1553, the wind was from 170 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 21 knots. The pilot reported a clear sky, with an unrestricted visibility of 20 miles and no turbulence.

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The crew of the Illinois Department of Transportation helicopter that crashed in New Mexico last Saturday veered to avoid birds while en route to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada for training in the use of radiation-detection equipment, officials said Friday.

 “The pilot in command made an abrupt turn to avoid a massive bird strike” and was “unable to recover complete control of the helicopter before it struck terrain,” said IDOT spokeswoman Paris Ervin.

“We believe the experience and quick action of the crew members is what saved their lives,” Ervin added. “The outcome could have been fatal had the bird strike not been avoided.”

The accident occurred in late afternoon, Ervin said, and the helicopter had been flying at 300 feet.

Both the pilot, Steve Young of Springfield, who is bureau chief of air operations for IDOT, and crew member Rob Thorpe of Sherman, IDOT section chief of aviation maintenance, were taken to a hospital and released later that day, according to Ervin.

The helicopter, valued at more than $800,000 and acquired by the state in 1986, was one of three operated by IDOT, and was taken to a nearby airfield after the accident, Ervin said. While a full analysis is pending, she said, “due to the extent of the damage, it is unlikely the aircraft will return to service.” It has not been determined if it will be replaced, she said.

The state has been and will continue working with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board concerning the accident, Ervin said.

Radiation detection

Among equipment on the damaged Bell 206L-3 helicopter was radiation-detection machinery, valued at about $20,000, produced by Illinois Emergency Management Agency personnel and installed in the aircraft about 2006, said Patti Thompson, IEMA spokeswoman. It is designed to test for radiation, and has been deployed for safety exercises at nuclear power facilities. Thompson noted that Illinois has 11 active nuclear reactors at six sites. That’s the most active reactors of any state.

The detection equipment was also used at some major events, including the Ryder Cup golf tournament last year at Medinah, Thompson said. It can detect or respond to terrorist threats, according to IDOT.

The helicopter’s crew, as well as two people from IEMA, did attend the training at Nellis Air Force Base, working in part with Aerial Measuring Systems, which is overseen by the U.S. Department of Energy and its National Nuclear Security Administration, state officials said.

 Thompson said that among matters discussed was how to better identify particular types of radiation, and how to best use airborne equipment to get good results. The federal officials and contractors “gave us a lot of good ideas about ways to improve what we do,” she said.

Because of the Illinois helicopter’s accident, side-by-side tests with federal equipment — which would have allowed a comparison of readings — wasn’t possible, Thompson said.

“The pilots still were learning from the DOE personnel about how to do the most effective fly-overs based on what their mission was,” according to Thompson.

Also at the training were people who had flown over the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in Japan, which leaked wastewater following meltdowns brought on by an earthquake and tsunami in 2011.

“They had a lot of lessons learned from that real-life experience,” Thompson said.

Thompson said she’s not aware of any other state with this type of testing equipment.

“But no other state has this many reactors, either,” she said, adding that Illinois having its own equipment means it “would be able to be there a lot sooner” than waiting on federal officials to arrive in case of emergency.

Equipment retrieval

Ervin said the state intends to recover the specialized equipment that was on the wrecked helicopter, which could be placed on another aircraft after testing to make sure it functions well.

The helicopter also was fitted with an infrared camera system, a search light, harness points for use allowing people to exit or be hoisted into the aircraft, and communications equipment that could allow live streaming of video to assist law enforcement in search and rescue activities, according to IDOT. It has been used by agencies including the Illinois State Police and the Department of Natural Resources.

The two other IDOT helicopters are both Sikorsky models, Ervin said. They are used for executive travel, often where there is no airport or runway, and allow state leaders to get first-hand looks at emergencies, such as flooding or the aftermath of tornadoes.

Following the accident, IDOT reported that the helicopter was traveling for maintenance. Ervin said Friday that referred to the planned calibration of the nuclear testing equipment that was on the helicopter.

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