History of Flight
On June 21, 2011, at approximately 1155 Pacific daylight time, a Bell 206B helicopter, registration N38EA, landed hard during a practice autorotation near Franklin Field Airport in Franklin, California. The helicopter was operated by the California Department of Justice as a public-use instructional flight. The solo student pilot was uninjured. The helicopter sustained substantial damage during the landing and was subsequently consumed by a post-impact fire. The flight had departed Franklin at 1130. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported that he initially departed from Sacramento Mather Airport in Sacramento, California, intending to perform pattern practice at Franklin. Upon arrival, he executed a series of straight-in autorotations, quick-stops, and low-hovers, followed by two 180-degree autorotations to the left. He reported no anomalies with the helicopter during this period and stated that all maneuvers were uneventful.
Due to the direction of the traffic pattern, he was unable to practice 180-degree autorotations to the right. He therefore departed with the intention of continuing the maneuvers in a field 3 miles east of the airport.
The pilot chose a 50-feet-wide area with chest-high grass, where he practiced slope landings and pickups, and performed one uneventful 180-degree autorotation. He recalled that the temperature in the area was in excess of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. As he rounded the base leg for a second 180-degree autorotation, he confirmed all flight instruments indicated normal engine operation, but noted his airspeed was too slow. He lowered the helicopter's nose, and the descent rate increased to about 1,800 feet per minute. At about 100 feet above ground level, he heard the low rotor warning horn and immediately countered by quickly rolling the throttle to full power while applying up-collective. The helicopter then shuddered and vibrated, with accompanying "snorting and popping sounds" that he had never experienced before.
He elected to perform a run-on landing rather than continue with the recovery. During the landing, the helicopter impacted the ground hard, spreading the skids. The right skid dug into the ground and separated, and the helicopter rolled onto its right side. He then shut down the fuel supply and egressed as a fire erupted.
The pilot stated that the engine was still operating after he exited. The helicopter continued to burn for 2 more hours as fire crews attempted to gain access to the accident site.
Personnel Information
A review of Federal Aviation Administration airman records revealed that the pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane. He additionally held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine sea. The pilot did not hold a rotorcraft/helicopter certificate but received an endorsement on October 15, 2010, to fly solo and as pilot-in-command of helicopters in preparation for his practical test. He reported a total flight time in helicopters of 106 hours, with 62 hours in the accident make and model.
Tests and Research
The remaining sections of the helicopter, which included the engine, main rotor blades, tail rotor, and associated gearbox, were recovered for examination. Subsequent examination by an NTSB investigator did not reveal any anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.