Beverly Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Beverly, Massachusetts 01915
Wednesday, May 21, 2014 10:11 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On May 21, 2014, about 1011 eastern daylight time, a Bell 206L-4, N55SL, landed hard following a total loss of engine power during initial climb at Beverly Municipal Airport (BVY), Beverly, Massachusetts. The commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured, and the helicopter was substantially damaged. The helicopter was operated by Helicopters, Inc. under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local, aerial observation flight, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, he was assigned to fly a photographer with a local news station to the Watertown, Massachusetts area to respond to a truck accident. The helicopter was parked on a trailer and the preflight and engine start portions of the flight were normal. After checking the local wind conditions, the flight was cleared to depart by tower personnel. Shortly after liftoff, the engine abruptly lost all power. The pilot attempted an autorotation to a taxiway, but chose to land in the grass adjacent to the taxiway when it became apparent the he would not make the taxiway. During the flare and landing, the main rotor contacted the tail boom, severing it just aft of the horizontal stabilizer. The helicopter came to rest on the landing gear and the pilot and passenger exited the aircraft. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. The engine inspection revealed that the combustion section outer case was ruptured in the elbow area. The engine was removed and will be examined at a later date at an overhaul facility under the direction of the NTSB.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/21/2014
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1011
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Beverly
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 01915
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 423503N
Event Location Longitude 0705458W
Event Location Airport Beverly Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BVY
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 953 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID BVY
Elevation of weather observation facility 107
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.99
Density Altitude (feet) --
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) --
NTSB Notification Source FAA New England ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 9 2014 3:29PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N55SL
NTSB Number ERA14LA248
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA
Aircraft Model 206 L4
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 52347
Certified Max Gross Weight 4550
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 4
Total number of seats on the aircraft 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 14 2014 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3162
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HELICOPTERS INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address ST LOUIS DOWNTOWN AIRPORT5000 OMEGA DR
Aircraft Owner City CAHOKIA
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 62206
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name HELICOPTERS INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address ST LOUIS DOWNTOWN AIRPORT5000 OMEGA DR
Operator City CAHOKIA
Operator State IL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 62206
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
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) Aerial Observation
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code BVY
Departure City Beverly
Departure State MA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1011
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Watertown
Destination State MA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 9 2014 3:29PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --