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NTSB Preliminary Report: Fort Myers, FL

Location:

Fort Myers, FL

Accident Number:

ERA23LA011

Date & Time:

October 8, 2022, 18:00 Local

Registration:

N5DF

Aircraft:

BELL TEXTRON CANADA LTD 505

Injuries:

2 Serious, 2 Minor

Flight Conducted Under:

Part 91: General aviation - Personal

 

 

On October 8, 2022, about 1800 eastern daylight time, a Bell 505 helicopter, N5DF, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Fort Myers, Florida. The private pilot and one passenger had serious injuries, and two passengers had minor injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot, through his attorney, reported that he was approaching a landing zone (LZ) at Fire Station 75 to drop off his three passengers. About 150 feet above the ground, he noticed flags near the LZ and elected to go around to make another approach to better align with the light wind. He added power to initiate the go around and suddenly there was a “bump and dip” in the tail which was immediately followed by severe and massive vibration and shaking of the helicopter, with an uncommanded left yaw. The helicopter then pitched up and rolled violently. The pilot was unable to regain control and the helicopter crashed near the LZ, in a ditch.

An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor, with the outboard sections of the blades separating during impact. The main rotor hub separated from the transmission. The tail boom broke free of the fuselage and the tail rotor separated from the tail boom. One of the passengers reported that the engine continued to run after the crash.

The helicopter was manufactured in 2021. The last maintenance entry in the aircraft records was a lubrication service on July 7, 2022, at a total aircraft time of 182 hours.

The wreckage was retained for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make:

BELL TEXTRON CANADA LTD

Registration:

N5DF

Model/Series:

505

Aircraft Category:

Helicopter

Amateur Built:

Operator:

On file

Operating Certificate(s) Held:

None

Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site:

VMC

Condition of Light:

Day

Observation Facility, Elevation:

KFMY,12 ft msl

Observation Time:

17:53 Local

Distance from Accident Site:

6 Nautical Miles

Temperature/Dew Point:

29°C /21°C

Lowest Cloud Condition:

 

Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction:

11 knots / , 60°

Lowest Ceiling:

Broken / 4000 ft AGL

Visibility:

10 miles

Altimeter Setting:

30.01 inches Hg

Type of Flight Plan Filed:

None

Departure Point:

Bokeelia, FL (NA)

Destination:

Fort Myers, FL

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries:

1 Serious

Aircraft Damage:

Substantial

Passenger Injuries:

1 Serious, 2 Minor

Aircraft Fire:

On-ground

Ground Injuries:

 

Aircraft Explosion:

None

Total Injuries:

2 Serious, 2 Minor

Latitude, Longitude:

26.51269,-81.9371

 

Administrative Information

Investigator In Charge (IIC):

Hicks, Ralph

Additional Participating Persons:

Marquin Israel; FAA; Tampa, FL

Gary Howe; Bell Textron Canada Ltd; Fort Worth, TX

Bryan Larimore; Safran Helicopter Engines; Grand Prairie, TX

Note:

The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.

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