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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

August 18, 1995 · Bell 206B · N16915

Bingham, ME

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 18, 1995
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Bingham, ME
Aircraft
Bell 206B
Tail Number
N16915
Operator
Helicopter Transport Services
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC95LA198

THE PILOT HAD BEEN CONDUCTING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT. DURING THE THIRD APPROACH TO LANDING, THE LEFT SKID TOUCHED DOWN FIRST, AND THEN THE RIGHT SKID FOLLOWED BY THE HELICOPTER ROLLING TO THE RIGHT AND COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES, AND THE FAA INSPECTOR STATED, 'INVESTIGATION OF THE WRECKAGE AT THE CRASH SITE...YIELDED NO MECHANICAL OR STRUCTURAL FAILURE FINDINGS.'

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's inadequate landing flare resulting in a hard landing and roll over, and a subsequent collision with trees.

Full Narrative

On August 18, 1995, about 0800 eastern daylight time, a Bell 206B, helicopter, N16915, operated by Helicopter Transport Services Inc., was destroyed when it rolled over during landing near Bingham, Maine. The commercial pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flight. No flight plan had been filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 137. In the NTSB form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated: On landing at loading site, the left skid touched down normally. Then the aircraft rolled hard right. The right skid and boom hit the ground, and in attempting to stop a roll over there was a bang followed by control feedback (cyclic) and rotation to the right. Control was not regained before impacting trees. Additionally, the pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector stated: ...From an eye witness, it was stated...the pilot on his first two landings came in high and fast. His flare also appeared to be abnormal. It was...thought that there may be mechanical problems, but this thought was erased when the aircraft took off after reloading. On the third return to the landing area, the helicopter was observed to have hit hard on the left skid, bounced forward and hit hard on the right skid. Observation of the landing area confirmed this finding. It was noted that the left skid shoe dug a deep groove in the hard packed gravel. ...Investigation of the wreckage at the crash site by the FAA and a Bell Helicopter Textron accident investigator yielded no mechanical or structural failure findings....The collective stick and the three hydraulic servos were shipped to Bell Helicopter Textron in Dallas, Texas for metallurgical testing and functional testing. The servos were found to be functional with no discrepancies noted....The collective stick was broken to the left and downward in a tension overload condition.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:00 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 206B
Tail NumberN16915
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorHelicopter Transport Services
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C20B · Turboshaft · 317
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 48 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data