Accident · 2003-07-26

NTSB case LAX03GA244 · Bell 206L-3 · Part 91

What the record says

Event date: 2003-07-26
Event type: Accident
Highest injury level: Fatal injury
Aircraft: Bell 206L-3 (N6184D)
Operating rule: Part 91
Operator: U.S. Dept. of Interior Operator named in NTSB report
Operated by (per NTSB report): US Dept of Interior

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain a minimum translational lift airspeed while maneuvering in high density altitude conditions at near maximum required torque and above the in ground effect hover altitude, that resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and a loss of control. The pilot's inadequate in flight planning in his failure to note and account for the power requirements necessary to conduct takeoffs and the slow maneuvering flight at the accident site were also causal.

Source: NTSB case LAX03GA244

Flight crew

Flight-crew details for this event aren't in the NTSB database extract we hold (its coverage starts with 2008 events) — a gap in our data, not an absence of crew.

Facts as the NTSB records them — GroundCheck adds no judgement. Preliminary records may be revised as the investigation proceeds.

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