NYC05CA047

Factual narrative

On February 1, 2005, at 1426 eastern standard time, a Bell 206B, N59MB, was substantially damaged while attempting to transition to a hover from the ground at the Lancaster Airport, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, as he was raising the collective to hover the helicopter, it immediately rolled over onto its right side. The pilot added that the helicopter was positioned into the direct sunlight, and he experienced "dazzling sunlight" being reflected from surrounding snow banks. The pilot did not report any mechanical difficulties with the helicopter. Inspection of the helicopter revealed that the main rotor blades and the tail rotor assembly sustained substantial damage. As the pilot increased collective to transition to a hover, the helicopter immediately rolled over onto its right side. The pilot added that the helicopter was positioned into the direct sunlight, and he experienced "dazzling sunlight" being reflected from surrounding snow banks. The pilot did not report any mechanical difficulties with the helicopter. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12