Summary
On April 20, 2013, a Bell 206B (N4237M) was involved in an incident near Wells, NV. 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 failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle while maneuvering at a low altitude.
The pilot reported that he was flying the helicopter to specific locations within hilly sage and brush covered terrain in order for his passenger to set mining claim stakes at various intervals of 300, 600, and 1,500 feet. Movement between locations was typically conducted at a low altitude. The pilot stated that as he flew the helicopter over the crest of a hill, he felt a shudder and subsequent vibration and initiated an autorotation to an open field. Following an uneventful landing, the pilot noticed that the tailrotor and tailrotor drive shaft were damaged.
This incident is documented in NTSB report WPR13CA204. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N4237M.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle while maneuvering at a low altitude.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The pilot reported that he was flying the helicopter to specific locations within hilly sage and brush covered terrain in order for his passenger to set mining claim stakes at various intervals of 300, 600, and 1,500 feet. Movement between locations was typically conducted at a low altitude. The pilot stated that as he flew the helicopter over the crest of a hill, he felt a shudder and subsequent vibration and initiated an autorotation to an open field. Following an uneventful landing, the pilot noticed that the tailrotor and tailrotor drive shaft were damaged. The pilot further reported that during recovery of the helicopter, he located a bush with several broken branches which was located within the flight path of the helicopter and felt that the tailrotor struck the bush while he was maneuvering. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter would have precluded normal operation.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR13CA204