Bell 206B accident near Mesa, AZ
On June 25, 2004, a Bell 206B (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Mesa, AZ. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- June 25, 2004
- Place
- Mesa, AZ
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 33.461°N, 111.728°W
- NTSB ID
- 20040629X00884
Official records · LAX04LA249
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Air Traffic Control Personnel Statements: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
"THIS CASE WAS MODIFIED JUNE 4, 2008." On June 24, 2004, about 2110 mountain standard time, a Bell 206B, N97AZ, experienced a dynamic rollover and impacted terrain during an attempted takeoff from a trailer parked at the Falcon Field Airport, Mesa, Arizona. The pilot was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured and the helicopter was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. The personal local flight originated from Falcon Field Airport about 2105. In a written statement, a friend of the pilot reported that upon arriving at the airport, he observed the pilot land the helicopter adjacent to a trailer. After the helicopter was shutdown, he engaged in conversation with the pilot, who informed him that he was intending to practice landings on his recently purchased transport trailer that night. The pilot stated that his earlier attempts to land the helicopter on the trailer were unsuccessful, which he attributed to the helicopter's weight distribution. Specifically, he thought that the center of gravity was too far aft due to the low fuel level, which was making it difficult to maintain the appropriate hover configurations. The pilot added that he intended to obtain fuel, and make another attempt to land the helicopter on the trailer. During a telephone interview with a National Transportation Safety Board investigator, the friend of the pilot further added that the pilot had recently purchased the trailer, and was
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to adequately clear the left skid of obstacles resulting in a dynamic rollover of the helicopter and collision with terrain. A factor in the accident was the dark nighttime lighting conditions.
More accidents in AZ
- De Havilland DHC-6-300, Sep 27, 1989
- Cessna 402C, Jun 19, 1992
- Piper PA-31-350, Aug 17, 1983
- Piper PA-31-350, Feb 13, 1995
- Cessna 421C, Sep 2, 1995
Browse: Arizona · 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.
