On 17 Apr 2009, a BELL 206 B operated by Air Coastal Helicopters was involved in an aviation accident near West Palm Beach, FL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during taxi, which resulted in a dynamic rollover. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A helicopter rolled onto its right side after the pilot maneuvered to turn into the wind, resulting in substantial damage to the main rotor blades.
Accident Details
A helicopter sustained substantial damage to its main rotor blades after it rolled onto its right side during a water-taxi maneuver near a pier. The pilot reported that the helicopter landed in a swampy area adjacent to the pier and then water-taxied close to the pier to allow a passenger to disembark. The pilot was aware of tall PVC pipes near the tail rotor.
Pilot Account
After the passenger stepped onto the pier, the pilot maneuvered the helicopter by sliding it to the right, intending to then turn into the wind and depart. As the helicopter was sliding, the left float began to lift up. The pilot corrected with full left cyclic, but the helicopter continued to slide to the right and then rolled onto its right side. The pilot reported that wet mud may have accumulated around the right float and that a dynamic rollover occurred. No mechanical problems were reported.
Wind Conditions
The pilot reported surface winds from the northeast at 15 to 20 knots, with gusts to 25 knots.
Contributing factors
Causes
PilotPerformance/control parameters — Not attained/maintained