Bell 206B accident near Mineral Wells, TX
On January 8, 2001, a Bell 206B (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Mineral Wells, TX. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- January 8, 2001
- Place
- Mineral Wells, TX
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 32.758°N, 98.089°W
- NTSB ID
- 20010111X00287
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 8, 2001, at 1420 central standard time, a Bell 206B, single-engine helicopter, N152AL, was destroyed when it struck trees and terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Mineral Wells, Texas. The helicopter was owned and operated by S-TEC Corporation of Mineral Wells. The airline transport pilot, sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 business flight. The local flight originated from the Mineral Wells Airport at 1410. According to a witness, who was loading topsoil into a truck with a Caterpillar loader, he noticed a shadow pass overhead and "heard the noise of rotor blades." He turned around and observed the helicopter impact the ground, nose over, and come to rest inverted about 30 feet from his location. The witness stated that he "did not hear the engine running." The witness also stated that the pilot asked for assistance in getting out of the helicopter since he was getting wet with the fuel draining from the ruptured fuel tank. The operator reported that the helicopter was being used for the development of a helicopter autopilot system, which contained rotary and linear servos. One of the servos had been removed and reinstalled during the previous 30 days, during which time the pilot had not flown the helicopter. On the day of the accident, the pilot was to fly the helicopter in the local area. PERSONNEL INFORMATION According to FAA records, the pilot was issue
Probable cause
the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
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Browse: Texas · 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.
