Bell 206L accident near Orlando, FL
On March 25, 1994, a Bell 206L (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Orlando, FL. 4 people were seriously injured. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- March 25, 1994
- Place
- Orlando, FL
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 0 fatal, 4 serious, 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 28.449°N, 81.471°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001206X00958
NTSB summary
On March 25, 1994, about 1242 eastern standard time, a Bell 206L, N16705, registered to Universal Air Service of Florida, Inc., crashed while making an off-heliport landing at Orlando, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 sightseeing flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage. The commercial-rated pilot and one passenger received minor injuries. Four passengers received serious injuries. One passenger was not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that shortly after departure he activated the water-alcohol injection system and noticed an increase in engine performance and a reduction in turbine out temperature (TOT). A short time later he noticed that the N2 turbine speed was slightly above red line and rapidly swung to near the upper limit of the gauge. He reduced the throttle slowly to attempt to manually override the N2 overspeed, picked out a landing area, and began an approach to the landing area. He rolled the throttle to the idle detent, with no effect on the N2 overspeed and the engine quit shortly after this. He did not have enough altitude and airspeed to enter autorotation and the helicopter descended and touched down hard. Witnesses observed the helicopter flying from east to west at about 300 feet. The helicopter was making a high pitched squeal and was descending. The helicopter appeared to lose power and then crash in a construction area. Examination of the helicopter by FAA inspectors after the accident indicated that there was
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CROSS-CHECK A FAULTY ENGINE SPEED INDICATION WITH OTHER ENGINE PERFORMANCE INDICATIONS TO VERIFY WHETHER AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION HAD ACTUALLY OCCURRED, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING. THE PILOT'S REACTION TO THE PERCEIVED ENGINE MALFUNCTION LED TO AN UNNECESSARY REDUCTION OF ENGINE POWER AND SUBSEQUENT EMERGENCY LANDING.
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Browse: Florida · Bell aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
