Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
St. Maarten
Wednesday, March 4, 2009 11:48 AST
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
On March 4, 2009, at 1148 Atlantic standard time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N83086, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Phillipsburg, Saint Maarten, Netherlands, Antilles. The pilot and 2 passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local sightseeing flight.
According to information released by the Directorate of Civil Aviation, the helicopter was maneuvering when the pilot noticed a loss of altitude and a corresponding decrease in engine and rotor rpm. The pilot entered autorotation, and maneuvered the helicopter towards the beach. During the descent, he noted that the "engine out" caution light was illuminated. As he approached the landing area, the pilot observed that the beach was crowded, and elected to land in the water. The helicopter landed upright in shallow water, but was subsequently upset by the surf.
The accident occurred in the vicinity of 18 degrees, 02 minutes north latitude, 63 degrees, 06 minutes west longitude.
This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Netherlands Antilles. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from:
Directorate of Civil Aviation
(Ministry of Communications)
Seru Mahuma z/n
Curacao, Netherlands Antilles
Tel: (599-9) 839 3333
Fax: (599-9) 868 9924
This report is for informational purposes and contains only information released by the Government of Netherlands Antilles.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
Not Yet Reported
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 3/4/2009 |
| Event Day of the Week | Wednesday |
| Time of Event | 1148 |
| Event Time Zone | Atlantic Standard Time |
| Event City | St. Maarten |
| Event State | -- |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | -- |
| Event Date Year | 2009 |
| Event Date Month | 3 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 180208N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0630604W |
| Event Location Airport | -- |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | -- |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | Off Airport/Airstrip |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | -- |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | -- |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1200 Atlantic Standard Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | -- |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | TNCM |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 20 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | -- |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | AST |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | -- |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | 2000 |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | Scattered |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | None |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 6 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 26 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 20 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 130 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | -- |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 10 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 30.03 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | TNCM 04/1600 30.03 79 68 70 130 10 6.2 SCT020 SCT0 |
| 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 | 3 |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | -- |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | -- |
| NTSB Notification Source | Dir. of Civil Aviation, Nether |
| NTSB Notification Date | -- |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Mar 18 2009 3:43PM |
| User who most recently changed record | kenj |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N83086 |
| NTSB Number | ERA09WA183 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Non-U.S., Non-Commercial |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | Unknown |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | -- |
| Damage | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | BELL |
| Aircraft Model | 206B |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 914 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | -- |
| Aircraft Category | Helicopter |
| Aircraft Registration Class | -- |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | No |
| Flight Crew Seats | -- |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- |
| Passenger Seats | -- |
| Total number of seats on the aircraft | 5 |
| Number of Engines | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | -- |
| Date of Last Inspection | -- |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | -- |
| Airframe Hours | -- |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | Unknown |
| Aircraft Owner Name | BELL 206 INC |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | 227 MARINERS WAY |
| Aircraft Owner City | BEAR |
| Aircraft Owner State | DE |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 19701-2295 |
| 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 | 227 MARINERS WAY |
| Operator City | BEAR |
| Operator State | DE |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 19701-2295 |
| Operator Code | -- |
| Owner has at least one certificate | None |
| 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) | Other Work Use |
| Second Pilot on Board | No |
| Departure Point Same as Event | No |
| Departure Airport Code | TFFG |
| Departure City | St. Maarten |
| Departure State | -- |
| Departure Country | NT |
| Departure Time | -- |
| Departure Time Zone | -- |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere |
| Destination Airport Code | TFFG |
| Destination City | St. Maarten |
| Destination State | -- |
| Destination Country | NT |
| Specific Phase of Flight | -- |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Mar 18 2009 3:44PM |
| User who most recently changed record | kenj |
| Since inspection or accident | -- |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | N/A |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | Yes |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |