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May 20, 1984 · Bell 206B · N75SP

Georgetown, DE

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 20, 1984
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Location
Georgetown, DE
Aircraft
Bell 206B
Tail Number
N75SP
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC84FA202

After performing police patrol activities, the aircrew landed, refueled the helicopter, then took off to practice autorotative landings. Two autorotative landings were made on RWY 22, then 2 more were made on an adjacent grass area. After the 2nd landing on the grass, the pilot started to take off again. He stated the helicopter was traveling level along the ground with very little weight on the skids at a speed of 5 to 10 mph. He then saw a drainage ditch, surrounded by hi grass, about 10 ft ahead. He applied power & increased the collective to clear the ditch. Reportedly, the sounds of the engine increased; however, the helicopter started to roll & yaw to the right. Also, the power was reportedly reduced to correct the yaw, but the helicopter's right skid contacted the turf, the aircraft rolled to the right & the main rotors contacted the ground. An exam of the engine & airframe were made, but no pre-crash, mechanical failure or malfunction was found.

Full Narrative

AFTER PERFORMING POLICE PATROL ACTIVITIES, THE AIRCREW LANDED, REFUELED THE HELICOPTER, THEN TOOK OFF TO PRACTICE AUTOROTATIVE LANDINGS. TWO AUTOROTATIVE LANDINGS WERE MADE ON RWY 22, THEN 2 MORE WERE MADE ON AN ADJACENT GRASS AREA. AFTER THE 2ND LANDING ON THE GRASS, THE PLT STARTED TO TAKE OFF AGAIN. HE STATED THE HELICOPTER WAS TRAVELING LEVEL ALONG THE GROUND WITH VERY LITTLE WEIGHT ON THE SKIDS AT A SPEED OF 5 TO 10 MPH. HE THEN SAW A DRAINAGE DITCH, SURROUNDED BY HI GRASS, ABOUT 10 FT AHEAD. HE APPLIED POWER & INCREASED THE COLLECTIVE TO CLEAR THE DITCH. REPORTEDLY, THE SOUNDS OF THE ENG INCREASED; HOWEVER, THE HELICOPTER STARTED TO ROLL & YAW TO THE RIGHT. ALSO, THE POWER WAS REPORTEDLY REDUCED TO CORRECT THE YAW, BUT THE HELICOPTER'S RIGHT SKID CONTACTED THE TURF, THE ACFT ROLLED TO THE RIGHT & THE MAIN ROTORS CONTACTED THE GROUND. AN EXAM OF THE ENG & AIRFRAME WERE MADE, BUT NO PRE-CRASH, MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:50 EDT
Nearest AirportSussex County (0nm N)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 206B
Tail NumberN75SP
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C20 · Turboshaft · 317
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 29 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind140° @ 3 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 12000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 64 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time23:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data