N49588

On January 13, 2008, a Bell 206 B2 (N49588) was involved in an incident near La Verna, CA. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's improper preflight planning which resulted in a jammed cyclic control while maneuvering.

The commercial pilot and mechanic were conducting a maintenance test flight to facilitate a dynamic track and balance of the main rotor system when the accident occurred. In a written statement, the pilot reported the helicopter was in a three-foot hover, moving forward, when control was lost. The helicopter subsequently collided with terrain resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported the left cyclic control was removed prior to the flight; however, the protective cover was not installed. He stated that during the accident flight, the test equipment (used for track and balance) "became entangled" at the left cyclic attach point and prevented full cyclic control.

This incident is documented in NTSB report SEA08CA059. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N49588.