Bell 206B accident near Franklin, California, June 21, 2011
On June 21, 2011 at about 6:55 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N38EA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Franklin, California (Franklin Field). It was a public-use flight (state) under public-use (government) rules. No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm during the practice autorotation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 2011 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Franklin, California · Franklin Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N38EA · no longer on the register · serial 2555
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight (state) · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was practicing autorotations and hovering maneuvers, and reported no anomalies with the helicopter during that period. He continued to practice 180-degree autorotations to the right in a nearby open field, and he successfully completed the first autorotation. During the second autorotation, he confirmed that all flight instruments were indicating normal engine operation, but noted that his airspeed was too slow. He attempted to apply corrective control inputs as the descent rate increased. About 100 feet above ground level, he heard the low rotor warning horn and immediately countered by quickly rolling the throttle to full power while applying up-collective. The helicopter did not respond to his inputs in the manner he was expecting, and he performed a run-on landing rather than continue with the attempted recovery. The helicopter then impacted the ground hard, spreading the skids, and then rolled onto its side. The pilot reported that the engine was still operating as he exited. A post impact fire subsequently consumed the majority of the helicopter's components. Subsequent examination of the remnants did not reveal any anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Simulated/training event during landing
- Autorotation Loss of control in flight defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Prop/rotor parameters › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,329 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 115 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 2,324 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 5, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,514 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 25, 2011; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce 250 Series (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: California Department Of Justice
The flight
- Departed from: F72 Franklin CA at 6:30 pm
- Destination: F72 Franklin CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from SAC, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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 N38EA 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.