Pilot Debrief

BELL 206 near Vick, TX — 2009-04-08

Final reportCEN09IA254
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Date
2009-04-08
Location
Vick, TX, USA
Aircraft
BELL 206
Registration
N295AE
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

Undetermined.

NTSB narrative

According to the pilot he heard and felt a prolonged "thud" during cruise flight at 1,000 feet above ground level and 110 knots. The airframe "wallowed" laterally and he felt resistance in the cyclic flight control followed by a return of normal aircraft control. He made a precautionary landing. An examination of the airframe revealed that the left side vertical winglet of the horizontal stabilizer was missing, and the lower vertical fin leading edge was damaged. The vertical stabilizer was not recovered. No evidence was found to determine the initiation of the damage. An examination of the remaining helicopter systems revealed no anomalies.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Other
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have conducted a precautionary landing sooner after the thud.

NTSB coding

  • Unknown or undetermined · Enroute-cruise

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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