Bell 206A-1 accident near Bennettsville, South Carolina, July 22, 2000
On July 22, 2000 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Bell 206A-1 (helicopter), registered N136C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bennettsville, South Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to use proper remedial action to counteract a loss of tail rotor effectiveness resulting in collision with terrain during the subsequent uncontrolled descent.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 2000 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bennettsville, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206A-1 · all 206A-1s on the register
- Registration
- N136C · no longer on the register · serial 44017
- 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 and one passenger, the rotorcraft lifted off the airstrip to about a 2 to 3 foot hover, and immediately commenced a violent right spin that terminated with the landing skid and nose colliding with the terrain. The main rotor severed the tail boom and collided with the terrain, resulting in the rotorcraft rolling over on its right side. The FAA reported the wreckage revealed no evidence of mechanical failure, and that the rotorcraft was within its maximum takeoff weight and loading limits. The density altitude was 2,206 feet.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 573 hours in all; 16 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 483 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,214 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1999; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison T-63-A700B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: PYG Pageland SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 2,400 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from FLO, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.