Bell 206L-1 accident near Georgetown, Texas, May 4, 2005
On May 4, 2005 at about 5:01 am local time, a Bell 206L-1 (helicopter), registered N9877Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Georgetown, Texas. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper flare resulting in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 2005 · about 5:01 am local time
- Place
- Georgetown, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-1 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N9877Z · no longer on the register · serial 45339
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 5,600-hour pilot reported that the helicopter experienced an uncontrolled 40-degree yaw to the right while in cruise flight at 500 feet above the ground at an airspeed of 90 knots. The uncommanded yaw was followed by a shutter and vibration within the fuselage and tail section. The pilot elected to perform a precautionary landing on a highway. During the flare and landing, the helicopter landed hard. In a follow-up interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who inspected the helicopter, the pilot added that the helicopter bounced back into the air after contacting the road, coming to rest on the edge of the road.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,600 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 215 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,661 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, March 1, 2005; 58 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C30P (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cfc Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: Georgetown TX at 7:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from KGTU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N9877Z the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.