Amateur-built BABY BELLE accident near Lakeland, Florida, April 9, 2008
On April 9, 2008 at about 4:00 pm local time, a amateur-built BABY BELLE (helicopter), registered N6261N, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Lakeland, Florida (Lakeland Linder Regional Airpo airport). It was an air show or air race flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the tailrotor driveshaft hanger bearing and jamming of the tailrotor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 9, 2008 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeland, Florida · Lakeland Linder Regional Airpo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BABY BELLE
- Registration
- N6261N · no longer on the register · serial VWT-5
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was demonstrating a hovering maneuver during an airshow. During this maneuver, the helicopter began an uncommanded left turn and landed hard causing substantial damage. Inspection revealed that the #1 tailrotor drive shaft hanger bearing failed, then the tailrotor RPM sensor broke loose, and the tailrotor became jammed.
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
What happened, in order
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Tail rotor drive system › Tail rotor drive shaft › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 5,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 15, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lakeland FL
- Destination: Lakeland FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,200 ft; clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from KLAL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.