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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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June 28, 1986 · Bell 206B III · N1068Y

Moultonboro, NH

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 28, 1986
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Moultonboro, NH
Aircraft
Bell 206B III
Tail Number
N1068Y
Operator
Joe Brigha
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC86LA168

THE BELL JET RANGER HAD JUST DROPPED OFF AN EXTERNAL LOAD AND WAS RETURNING DOWNHILL WHEN THE PILOT REPORTED HEARING A GROWLING NOISE IN THE AFT PORTION OF THE AIRCRAFT. HE AUTOROTATED TO LANDING AS CONTROL WAS LOST. WHEN THE WRECKAGE WAS EXAMINED AFTER IT HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX WAS OUT OF THE AIRFRAME AND ONE TAIL ROTOR BLADE WAS MISSING. EXAMINATION OF THE REMAINING TAIL ROTOR STUB BY THE NTSB LAB SHOWED THE FAILURE WAS OPPOSITE THE NORMAL DIRECTION OF ROTATION. WHAT THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK WAS NOT DETERMINED. ROTATION OF THE 90 DEGREE GEARBOX REVEALED THERE WAS NO BINDING.

Full Narrative

THE BELL JET RANGER HAD JUST DROPPED OFF AN EXTERNAL LOAD AND WAS RETURNING DOWNHILL WHEN THE PILOT REPORTED HEARING A GROWLING NOISE IN THE AFT PORTION OF THE AIRCRAFT. HE AUTOROTATED TO LANDING AS CONTROL WAS LOST. WHEN THE WRECKAGE WAS EXAMINED AFTER IT HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX WAS OUT OF THE AIRFRAME AND ONE TAIL ROTOR BLADE WAS MISSING. EXAMINATION OF THE REMAINING TAIL ROTOR STUB BY THE NTSB LAB SHOWED THE FAILURE WAS OPPOSITE THE NORMAL DIRECTION OF ROTATION. WHAT THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK WAS NOT DETERMINED. ROTATION OF THE 90 DEGREE GEARBOX REVEALED THERE WAS NO BINDING.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:15 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 206B III
Tail NumberN1068Y
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorJoe Brigha
Operating RulePart 133
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C-20B · Turboshaft · 317
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 25 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind230° @ 8 kt
Visibility5 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data