Bell 206B accident near Memphis, Tennessee, May 30, 2010
On May 30, 2010 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N6401X, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Memphis, Tennessee (Memphis Police Heliport airport). It was a public-use flight (local) under public-use (government) rules. No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm and the certificated flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted 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 30, 2010 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Memphis, Tennessee · Memphis Police Heliport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N6401X · registry record · serial 4522
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight (local) · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a public use training flight, the certificated flight instructor (CFI) simulated an engine failure as the helicopter was climbing through approximately 450 feet above ground level (agl). He then advised the pilot to terminate the maneuver with a power recovery. Approximately 100 feet agl the CFI told the pilot to increase the engine torque to full power. Shortly thereafter, the CFI heard the low rotor rpm warning and relayed to the pilot that he was assuming authority of the helicopter's controls. The CFI advanced the throttle to 100 percent power while both pilots remained on the controls. During the flare, the tail stinger struck the ground and the helicopter landed hard. The main rotor came into contact with the tail boom aft of the horizontal stabilizer and severed it. There was no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomaly or malfunction with the helicopter.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Tailstrike during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Copilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Prop/rotor parameters › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,199 hours in all; 1,703 in this make and model; 3,825 as pilot in command; 2,156 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 25, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,366 hours in all; 1,918 in this make and model; 121 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 2,240 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 23, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,794 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 10, 2010; 1,044 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royc 250-C20J (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: City Of Memphis
The flight
- Departed from: 27TN Memphis TN at 5:45 pm
- Destination: 27TN Memphis TN
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 5:15 pm from NQA, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.