Bell 206B accident near Nekoosa, Wisconsin, September 9, 1999
On September 9, 1999 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N4010G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nekoosa, Wisconsin. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind gusts. Factors were the wind gusts and the two vehicles parked nearby.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 1999 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Nekoosa, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N4010G · registry record · serial 183
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said he took off from the southeast side of a building and flew west. He stated he turned and flew north. He turned right and flew to the east. He said he 'experienced a hard gust of wind on my tail, causing the aircraft to enter a right spin.' He applied full left rudder and the helicopter did not stop its spinning. He stated he lowered 'the nose in an attempt to fly out of the spin, but to no avail again.' The pilot stated, 'I would need to attempt an auto-rotation to a safe landing.' He said that the 'landing was hard and the tail spun and hit two cars in the parking lot.' The pass was done in slow cruise. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions. The pilot checked wind before the flight. The wind was 270 degrees at 15 knots.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,678 hours in all; 8 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,678 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,842 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 26, 1998; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WI at 3:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,300 ft; scat at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from ISW, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.