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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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August 23, 1996 · Bell 206B · N206FT

Greybull, WY

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 23, 1996
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Greybull, WY
Aircraft
Bell 206B
Tail Number
N206FT
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA96LA205

While in cruise flight, the pilot elected to demonstrate an autorotation to his passenger. During the recovery attempt, the pilot noted horn activation and illumination of the red light on the caution panel. He leveled the helicopter and applied pitch for landing. The helicopter rocked, and the main rotor hit the tail boom, causing it to separate. The pilot stated that he did not believe the engine had lost power.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's misjudged recovery (remedial action) from a simulated autorotation demonstration.

Full Narrative

On August 23, 1996, approximately 1435 mountain daylight time, a Bell 206-B3 helicopter, N206FT, sustained substantial damage while maneuvering near Greybull, Wyoming. The airline transport pilot and his passenger were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed, and there was no report of an ELT actuating. The pilot stated that he was demonstrating autorotations to his passenger. At 800 feet above the ground and about 80 knots airspeed, he rolled off the throttle and initiated the maneuver, planned to be a power-on recovery. At the time he flared to recover, he heard a horn and had a light on the panel. The aircraft touched down easy on the nearly level surface and slid less than one yard. The main rotor separated the tailboom. The pilot did not believe that the aircraft had sustained a loss of power, and he surmised that he may have made a pitch change application at too high an altitude.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:35 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 206B
Tail NumberN206FT
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C20R · Turboshaft · 450
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 66 · Second Class

Conditions

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

Appendix: Source Data