Monday, July 23, 2018

Loss of Control in Flight: Bell 206B, N352CT; accident occurred July 20, 2018 in Todd Mission, Grimes County, Texas

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entities:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Houston, Texas
Transportation Safety Board of Canada; Gatineau, Quebec
Bell Helicopter; Fort Worth, Texas
Rolls-Royce; Indianapolis, Indiana

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

http://registry.faa.gov/N352CT


Location:  Todd Mission, TX
Accident Number: CEN18LA290
Date & Time: 07/20/2018, 1215 CDT
Registration: N352CT
Aircraft: Bell 206
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight
Injuries: 2 Minor, 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On July 20, 2018, about 1215 central daylight time, a Bell 206B, N325CT, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Todd Mission, Texas. The private pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries and two passengers sustained no injury. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

After flying in the local area and refueling, the pilot landed on a grass field to facilitate the passengers switching their seat positions in the helicopter. During the seat-switching process, the pilot reduced the throttle to the flight idle position. After the passengers switched seats and secured their restraint systems, with one passenger stationed in the front left seat, and two passengers stationed in the cabin, the pilot increased the throttle to 100 percent and lifted the helicopter off from the field.

A review of accident sequence video footage shows that the helicopter began to rotate right during the takeoff. The pilot reported that about 10 ft above ground level with about 5 kts of forward airspeed and a heading of about 270°, the helicopter spun four 360° revolutions to the right. The pilot reported she applied full left pedal with no response from the helicopter. During the loss of control sequence, the pilot observed the torque gauge "jump" and she heard a "whining" noise emit from the engine. Prior to the impact with terrain, the pilot reduced the throttle to the flight idle position. The left skid impacted the ground, the helicopter rolled to the left, and came to rest on the left side of the fuselage. The pilot executed an emergency shutdown and the occupants egressed from the helicopter without further incident.

The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, the fuselage, the tailboom, and the tail rotor system. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

The helicopter had the cyclic, collective, and the two tail rotor pedals installed in the left side of the helicopter. The pilot reported that she briefed all of the passengers about not touching any of the flight controls. The passenger in the front left seat was asked if he had his feet on top of the tail rotor pedals as a footrest. He stated "that or on the floor," and then stated that he was not sure. The passenger further reported that the pilot did give a passenger safety briefing about not touching any of the flight controls.

Postaccident testing was conducted in a Bell 206B flight training device. Wind conditions were replicated for the accident site. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) rested his feet on top of the tail rotor pedals for two flight iterations with no force applied and with medium force applied. When the Bell chief training pilot (CTP) attempted to takeoff for both iterations, the helicopter started to immediately rotate to the right. The CTP had a hard time maintaining directional control due to the interference of the feet on the tail rotor pedals.

The NTSB IIC also placed the tips of his feet on the floorboards up against the tail rotor pedals. When the CTP attempted to takeoff for the third iteration, the helicopter started to immediately rotate to the right. The CTP had a hard time maintaining directional control due to the interference of the feet up against the tail rotor pedals.

A review of the Bell 206B rotorcraft flight manual found no guidance regarding the carrying of passengers in the cockpit and the interference of flight controls.

The Federal Aviation Administration Helicopter Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-21B) discusses operations when carrying passengers in the cockpit and states, "If possible, remove front passenger flight controls and ensure all passenger personal items, such as cameras and mobile phones are secure." 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 73, Female
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied:Right 
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 10/31/2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 01/10/2018
Flight Time: (Estimated) 3780 hours (Total, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Bell
Registration: N352CT
Model/Series: 206 B
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Year of Manufacture: 1969
Amateur Built:No 
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 340
Landing Gear Type: High Skid
Seats: 5
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 10/23/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3200 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Turbo Shaft
Airframe Total Time: 7102.6 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Rolls-Royce
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: 250-C20
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 400 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KDWH, 152 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 19 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1753 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 126°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 5 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 220°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 29.98 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 33°C / 23°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Houston, TX (DWH)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Pinehurst, TX
Type of Clearance: Traffic Advisory; VFR
Departure Time: 1100 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Minor, 2 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Minor, 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 30.251944, -95.844722 (est)










Location: Todd Mission, TX
Accident Number: CEN18LA290
Date & Time: 07/20/2018, 1215 CDT
Registration: N352CT
Aircraft: Bell 206
Injuries: 2 Minor, 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On July 20, 2018, about 1215 central daylight time, a high skid-equipped Bell 206B helicopter, N325CT, lost control after takeoff and impacted terrain near Todd Mission, Texas. The right seat private helicopter pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries, and two passengers sustained no injury. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The helicopter was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a visual flight rules personal sightseeing flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the pilot's private helipad in Pinehurst, Texas, about 0900.

In a conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on July 24, the pilot reported that the purpose of the local area flight was for sightseeing with a family member and friends. After flying in the local area and refueling, the pilot landed on a grass field to facilitate the passengers switching their seat positions in the helicopter. During the seat switching process, the pilot reduced the throttle to the flight idle position. After the passengers switched seats and secured their restraint systems, with one passenger stationed in the front left seat, and two passengers stationed in the cabin, the pilot increased the throttle to 100 percent and lifted off from the field.

About 3 seconds after liftoff, and about 15 feet above ground level with about 5 knots of forward airspeed and heading about 270 degrees, the helicopter made 4 360-degree revolutions to the right. The pilot reported she applied full left pedal with no response from the helicopter. During the loss of control sequence, the pilot observed the torque gauge "jump" and she heard a "whining" noise emit from the engine. Prior to the helicopter impacting terrain, the pilot reduced the throttle to the flight idle position. The left skid impacted the ground, the helicopter rolled to the left, and came to rest on the left side of the fuselage. The pilot executed an emergency shutdown and the occupants egressed from the helicopter without further incident.


Photograph 1 - View of the helicopter
 (courtesy of the Texas Renaissance Festival). 

After egressing from the helicopter, the occupants were located in an area with adequate cellular phone reception and contacted first responders for assistance. The helicopter was not equipped with an emergency locator transmitter, nor was it required to be.

The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, the fuselage, the tailboom, and the tail rotor system. The pilot reported that there were no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operation.

The helicopter was recovered from the field and transported to a secure facility for a future examination of the airframe and engine.

The 5-seat capacity helicopter, serial number 340, was built in 1969. The helicopter was powered by a 400 horsepower Rolls-Royce 250-C20 turboshaft engine, serial number CAE801330. 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Bell
Registration: N352CT
Model/Series: 206 B
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Amateur Built: No
Operator: Foresteen C. Corey
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KDWH, 152 ft msl
Observation Time: 1753 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 19 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 33°C / 23°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 5 knots / , 220°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.98 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Houston, TX (DWH)
Destination: Pinehurst, TX

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Minor, 2 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Minor, 2 None
Latitude, Longitude:  30.251944, -95.844722 (est)









GRIMES COUNTY, Tex. (KBTX) - A pilot and her granddaughter suffered minor injuries Friday afternoon after their helicopter crashed onto the grounds of the Texas Renaissance Festival in Grimes County.


Two others on board were not injured.


Deputies say the helicopter was attempting to take off from the property when a mechanical issue with a rotor forced it to fall back to the ground.


Officials with the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are on the way to the scene to investigate the accident.


The pilot, 73, is from Pinehurst, and her granddaughter, 17, is from Tomball. Both were taken to Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital.


One of the uninjured passengers is from Florida, and the other is from Canada.


Story and video ➤ http://www.kbtx.com

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