Pilot Debrief

BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 206L-4 near Mitchell, IN — 2023-10-17

Final reportCEN24LA017
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Date
2023-10-17
Location
Mitchell, IN, USA
Airport
BFR
Aircraft
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 206L-4
Registration
N490AE
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The inflight collision with a bird while in cruise flight.

NTSB narrative

The air medical flight departed from a hospital and was enroute to the operator’s base of operation. About 30 minutes after departure, while in cruise flight, at an airspeed of about 109 kts and an altitude of about 1,058 ft above ground level, the helicopter encountered a bird strike with a black vulture (Coragyps atratus). A heavy vibration ensued, and the pilot performed an off-airport landing to a field. The helicopter sustained substantial damage, which was a bent pitch change link for the main rotor system, from the bird strike. There was no mechanical malfunction/failure of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operations.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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