Bell 206B accident near Baltimore, MD
On August 1, 2001, a Bell 206B (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Baltimore, MD. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 1, 2001
- Place
- Baltimore, MD
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.185°N, 76.677°W
- NTSB ID
- 20010813X01666
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 1, 2001, at 1300 eastern daylight time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N89FB, operated by Helicopter Transport Services, was destroyed during collision with terrain at the Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI), Baltimore, Maryland. The helicopter came to rest on the Alpha taxiway abeam runway 15 Right. The certificated commercial pilot and photographer/passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial photography flight that originated at the Martin State Airport (MTN), Baltimore, Maryland, at 1232. No flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the operator, the purpose of the flight was to take aerial photographs of a large airport expansion construction project at BWI. During an interview, one witness said he was facing in a northwesterly direction as he observed the helicopter flying overhead. He said the helicopter did a succession of 180-degree turns that increased in rate of rotation. According to the witness, the helicopter approached from the east at hover-taxi speed. He said the helicopter hovered over his head and turned to the north, which oriented the tail of the helicopter into the wind. The witness said the helicopter came to a stationary hover, about 400 feet above the ground, with a direct tailwind. Once at a hover, the helicopter did a rapid 180-degree pedal turn around the mast, stopped momentarily, then initiated another rapid pedal turn to the right. According to the witness, the helicopter turned at a faster rate than the initial turn, and cont
Probable cause
The pilot's improper decision to maneuver in an environment conducive to a loss of tail rotor effectiveness, and his inadequate recovery from the resultant unanticipated right yaw.
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Browse: Maryland · 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.
