West Plains Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

West Plains, Missouri 65775
Friday, January 31, 2003 12:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

At the completion of a simulated autorotation maneuver the main rotor severed the tailboom. The check airman reported that at approximately 20 feet above ground level he "determined the sink rate was excessive" and he decided to perform a "power recovery." The check airman stated, "I repositioned my hand, started opening the throttle while leveling the aircraft and applying a cushioning pitch pull." The helicopter impacted off the left side of the runway with "the skids aligned with the direction of travel slightly aft skid low." The check airman reported, "The aircraft rocked up onto the toes of the skids and I increased collective pitch and applied aft cyclic, when I did the main rotor impacted the tailboom severing it."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The excessive descent rate that required an abrupt flare, resulting in the main rotor severing the tailboom.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/31/2003
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City West Plains
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 65775
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 365242N
Event Location Longitude 0915412W
Event Location Airport West Plains Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID UNO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1228
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1253 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID UNO
Elevation of weather observation facility 1228
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1900
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 19
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.95
Density Altitude (feet) 656
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13933
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jan 31 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2119
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 2 2009 12:34PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Federal Aviation Administration - St. Louis FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N27AE
NTSB Number CHI03LA062
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bell
Aircraft Model 206L-1
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 45192
Certified Max Gross Weight 4150
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 AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Jan 27 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 16.9
Airframe Hours 22440
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Air Evac EMS, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. Box 768
Aircraft Owner City West Plains
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 65775
Operator is an individual? No
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 USA
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code UNO
Departure City West Plains
Departure State MO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1215
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code UNO
Destination City West Plains
Destination State MO
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Feb 2 2009 12:34PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 180
Runway Length 5102
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight Yes
Medical Flight --