N25PM

Substantial
None

BELL 206S/N: 1839

Accident Details

Date
Friday, April 17, 2009
NTSB Number
ERA09CA249
Location
West Palm Beach, FL
Event ID
20090417X52150
Coordinates
26.676389, -80.090553
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during taxi, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N25PM
Make
BELL
Serial Number
1839
Engine Type
Turbo-shaft
Year Built
1975
Model / ICAO
206B06
Aircraft Type
Rotorcraft
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
EXTREME PROPERTIES INC
Address
7324 MELEDEE PL
Status
Deregistered
City
BISMARCK
State / Zip Code
ND 58504-3084
Country
United States

Analysis

According to the pilot, he landed the helicopter in a swampy area adjacent to a pier, then water-taxied close to the pier to allow his passenger to disembark. The pilot was aware of tall PVC pipes near the tail rotor. After the passenger stepped out onto the pier, the pilot maneuvered the helicopter by sliding it to the right, with the intention of then turning into the wind and departing. As the helicopter was sliding, the left float began to lift up, and he corrected with full left cyclic. The helicopter continued to slide to the right; it then rolled onto its right side, resulting in substantial damage to the main rotor blades. The pilot reported that wet mud may have accumulated around the right float and a dynamic rollover occurred. The pilot reported surface winds from the northeast at 15 to 20 knots, with gusts to 25 knots. He reported no mechanical problems with the helicopter.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA09CA249