ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 198610
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| Date: | Wednesday 30 July 2014 |
| Time: | 10:30 |
| Type: |  Bell 206B JetRanger |
| Owner/operator: | Harris Co Sheriff's Office |
| Registration: | N866H |
| MSN: | 3291 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1981 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 7247 hours |
| Engine model: | Rolls-Royce C20B |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Spring, TX -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Standing |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | Houston-David Wayne Hooks Airport, TX (DWH/KDWH) |
| Houston-David Wayne Hooks Airport, TX (DWH/KDWH) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot reported that he completed the preflight inspection of the helicopter while it was still in the hangar and that it was then moved onto the ramp. When the pilot arrived to start the helicopter, he was distracted by a cell phone call and did not perform an exterior check of the helicopter. The main rotor tie-down was still attached to the main rotor when the pilot engaged the engine. He was monitoring the cockpit gauges during the engine start when he noticed an individual approaching the helicopter waving his hands. He then heard a "thump," and he initiated an emergency shutdown. He reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The examination of the helicopter revealed that the tie-down strap had broken during the engine start and had gotten caught on the tail rotor output shaft, which resulted in substantial damage to the tail boom, tail rotor blades, and vertical fin.
Probable Cause: The pilot's distraction by a cell phone call, which led to his failure to perform an exterior check of the helicopter and resulted in a tie-down strap remaining attached to the main rotor during the engine start.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 19-Aug-2017 09:57 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
| 30-May-2023 07:51 | Ron Averes | Updated |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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