Pilot Debrief

BELL 206 near Baltimore, MD — 2016-04-16

Final reportERA16CA160
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Date
2016-04-16
Location
Baltimore, MD, USA
Airport
BWI
Aircraft
BELL 206
Registration
N326AC
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind while hovering out of ground effect, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.

NTSB narrative

The helicopter began the power line aerial observation flight near its maximum gross weight. As the pilot maneuvered the helicopter into an out-of-ground-effect hover with a 12-knot left crosswind, a nose-right yaw ensued that could not be corrected with a full left pedal application. Despite other remedial actions taken by the pilot, the helicopter descended to ground contact where the occupants egressed, but the helicopter was later destroyed by post-crash fire. The pilot stated there were no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. He said, "It was an aerodynamic issue, not a mechanical issue." FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 90-95, Unanticipated Right Yaw in Helicopters stated, "Any maneuver which requires the pilot to operate in a high-power, low-airspeed environment with a left crosswind or tailwind creates an environment where unanticipated right yaw may occur."

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Video
  • 8 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents8

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