Bell 206B accident near Pompano Beach, Florida, July 17, 2006
On July 17, 2006 at about 7:23 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N515AA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pompano Beach, Florida (Pompanp Beach Airpark airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper landing flare during a precautionary landing. A factor in the accident was the unusual noise as a result of an improper repaired air conditioner compressor system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 2006 · about 7:23 pm local time
- Place
- Pompano Beach, Florida · Pompanp Beach Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N515AA · no longer on the register · serial 3456
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting a post annual inspection and maintenance test flight. The pilot stated that he just completed a steep approach and elected to conduct another one. During the second approach, at about 400 feet above the ground, the helicopter seemed to mush and feel sluggish to him. Recalling during the preflight inspection, he noted minor issues during the hydraulic checks. He decided to discontinue the steep approach and fly to the landing spot on a taxiway. He wanted to increase the helicopter's airspeed to get "the aircraft on the ground ASAP." There were no visual or auditoria warning indications from the helicopter instruments of a problem; however an unusual noise would not subside behind him. He elected to perform a run-on landing in the place of a flare to a quick stop arrival. Witnesses stated that the helicopter porpoised, hitting the ground nose first then the tail rotor, followed by the helicopter sliding on its side before stopping in the grassy area of the infield. Examination of the helicopter wreckage was conducted. No abnormalities were noted with the engine, airframe, and its systems, except for the air conditioner compressor. The air conditioner compressor, located in the aft lower portion of the engine compartment, was observed with the belt off its pulley. Damages to the belt were consistent with it chafing against the nuts on the driveshaft Thomas coupling. The pulleys were misaligned; the support bracket for the compressor was loose and had missing rivets. The helicopter's maintenance records showed that the air conditioner compressor had a belt change and the base plate was re-shimmed to realign the driveshaft and the compressor during the annual inspection.
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; single-engine sea; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,850 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 7,600 as pilot in command; 3,020 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,735 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C208 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KPMP Pompano Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.