Bell 206L-1 accident near Shoals, Indiana, September 21, 2003
On September 21, 2003 at about 2:03 am local time, a Bell 206L-1 (helicopter), registered N74AE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shoals, Indiana. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot not maintaining a proper descent rate during the touchdown once visual reference was reduced by the dust in the rotor downwash. Factors were the dusty gravel landing area and the pilot's visual lookout not being possible due to the dust the rotor downwash raised.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 2003 · about 2:03 am local time
- Place
- Shoals, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-1 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N74AE · no longer on the register · serial 45765
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The air medical helicopter sustained substantial damage during a hard landing in a gravel lot. The pilot stated, "At approximately 10 feet above the ground, while on approach, I noticed some dust blowing. ... At approximately five to seven feet above the ground, the dust situation compounded itself and I lost all visual reference. I held what I had on the controls and let the aircraft settle to the ground. The aircraft contacted the ground in a level attitude and slid approximately 5 feet forward. The aircraft landed slightly harder than normal." The pilot said, "At the time of landing, no damage was observed after inspection with flashlight. Damage was found after subsequent flight by another pilot."
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,080 hours in all; 151 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 2,170 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 21, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 19,861.1 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, September 17, 2003; 11.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C28B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DCY Washington IN at 1:44 am
- Destination: Shoals IN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from BMG, 29 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.