Eurocopter AS 350 BA accident near Ft. Myers, Florida, November 18, 2006
On November 18, 2006 at about 2:10 pm local time, a Eurocopter AS 350 BA (helicopter), registered N72LC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ft. Myers, Florida (Buckingham Airfield). It was a public-use flight under public-use (government) rules. 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during engine start. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper advancement of the fuel control lever.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 18, 2006 · about 2:10 pm local time
- Place
- Ft. Myers, Florida · Buckingham Airfield
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS 350 BA · all AS 350 BAs on the register
- Registration
- N72LC · registry record · serial 2628
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the advancement of the fuel control lever, the engine revved and increased power to the point the pilot could not control the bouncing of the helicopter on the pad. The examination of the helicopter's airframe did not reveal any discrepancies that would have prevented normal operation of its flight and engine controls. A test cell run of the engine did not reveal any discrepancies with the operation at various power settings. The manufacturer states that if the fuel control lever is moved beyond the "Flight" detent the emergency valve progressively opens to supply the engine. The pilot's incorrect operation of the fuel lever could have contributed to over revving of the engine.
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; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,438 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 5,374 as pilot in command; 1,801 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,708 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 1, 2006; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,630 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca 4340 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Lee County Sheriff'S Office
The flight
- Departed from: FL59 Ft. Myers FL at 2:15 pm
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from RSW, 7 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N72LC 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.