Bell Textron Canada LTD 505 accident near Chamblee, Georgia, August 28, 2022
On August 28, 2022 at about 1:10 am local time, a 2022 Bell Textron Canada LTD 505 (helicopter), registered N6SD, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Chamblee, Georgia (Dekalb-Peachtree airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 ensure that the helicopter was properly positioned over a dolly before attempting to land on it, which resulted in a rollover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 28, 2022 · about 1:10 am local time
- Place
- Chamblee, Georgia · Dekalb-Peachtree · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell Textron Canada LTD 505, built 2022
- Registration
- N6SD · registry record · serial 65414
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he was attempting to land the helicopter on a portable dolly, and he was following a marshaller to land on the dolly. As he lowered the collective, the helicopter’s skids fell off the back of the dolly, and the tail rotor struck the ground. The helicopter subsequently rolled over on its left side resulting in substantial damage to the main rotor and tail rotor systems. The pilot added that there were no mechanical issues 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
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,100 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 2,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 19, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 35 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 22, 2022; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,680 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Safran Arrius 2R (turboshaft); 35 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Aiken SC at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft; a few clouds at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KPDK
Weather report (METAR): KPDK 280153Z 00000KT 10SM FEW065 SCT080 BKN110 23/22 A3000 RMK AO2 RAB33E48 SLP141 P0000 T02330222
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 27, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.