Bell 206B accident near Eckerman, Michigan, May 6, 2000
On May 6, 2000 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N9TD, was destroyed in an accident near Eckerman, Michigan. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to attain translational lift following an aborted landing and the loss of tail rotor effectiveness encountered by the pilot. Factors to the accident were the low rotor rpm and the trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 2000 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Eckerman, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9TD · registry record · serial 2488
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter was destroyed following a loss of tail rotor effectiveness while landing. After losing tail rotor effectiveness, the pilot was able to land the helicopter in a field amongst pine trees. The main rotor stuck the trees and the helicopter rolled over on its right side. A fire erupted and the helicopter was consumed. The pilot said that, as he approached the landing area, the helicopter was '...about 250 pounds below max[imum] gross weight of 3,200 pounds.' The pilot stated that he decided to abort the landing and he, '...began a power pull to 100 percent torque and a transition to forward flight. The helicopter immediately began a rapidly accelerating yaw to the right. He said that he, '...believed [he] still had a functioning tail rotor, but that it may have entered a 'loss of tail rotor effectiveness' state and need only be regained.' The pilot also stated that, 'the 'low rotor RPM' warning light and horn began to come on with each pull of the collective....' A Federal Aviation Advisory Circular states that a, 'loss of translational lift results in increased power demand and additional anti-torque requirements.' The AC also states that, 'When operating at or near maximum power, this increased power demand could result in a decrease in rotor rpm ... Any reduction in the translational lift will result in an increase in power demand and anti-torque requirements.'
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,152 hours in all; 203 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 1,651 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,078 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 24, 2000; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison C250-20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: TVC Traverse City MI at 1:10 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 pm from ERY, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.