Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bennettsville, South Carolina 29512
Saturday, July 22, 2000 13:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot and one passenger, the rotorcraft lifted off the airstrip to about a 2 to 3 foot hover, and immediately commenced a violent right spin that terminated with the landing skid and nose colliding with the terrain. The main rotor severed the tail boom and collided with the terrain, resulting in the rotorcraft rolling over on its right side. The FAA reported the wreckage revealed no evidence of mechanical failure, and that the rotorcraft was within its maximum takeoff weight and loading limits. The density altitude was 2,206 feet.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to use proper remedial action to counteract a loss of tail rotor effectiveness resulting in collision with terrain during the subsequent uncontrolled descent.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/22/2000
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BENNETTSVILLE
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29512
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 175
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1253 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 190
Weather Observation Facility ID FLO
Elevation of weather observation facility 146
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 34
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 2206
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 381
NTSB Notification Source FAA FSDO Columbia
NTSB Notification Date Jul 22 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Mar 4 2001 7:08AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N136C
NTSB Number MIA00LA227
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bell
Aircraft Model 206A-1
Aircraft Series Identifier 206A-1
Aircraft Serial Number 44017
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 1 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 11
Airframe Hours 12214
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOE F. COOK
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7007 WOLF POND RD.
Aircraft Owner City MONROE
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28112
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PYG
Destination City PAGELAND
Destination State SC
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 4 2001 7:08AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 13
Runway Length 2400
Runway Width 80
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --