Pilot Debrief

BELL 206 near Eupora, MS — 2009-10-25

Final reportERA10LA032
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Date
2009-10-25
Location
Eupora, MS, USA
Aircraft
BELL 206
Registration
N57PH
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

A loss of engine power due to fuel contamination of the helicopter’s fuel supply.

NTSB narrative

During an aerial application flight, the helicopter's engine lost power while flying about 50 feet above the ground. The pilot stated that the helicopter dropped straight down, and that the rotor stopped turning during the descent. The helicopter was substantially damaged during the impact sequence. A postaccident examination of the helicopter's fuel system revealed a brown contaminate, of a density greater than jet fuel. The contaminate was present in several airframe and engine fuel filters and on the engine fuel nozzle. Examination of the dual use truck that was used to service the helicopter with fuel and herbicide revealed that the fuel filter between the Jet-A fuel tank and the fuel delivery hose was also contaminated. A common trough that ran along the top of the fuel truck provided an area where any over flow of water used to fill the truck's herbicide tank could be introduced into the truck's Jet-A fuel tank through gaps in the fuel tank's cap seal.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked fuel quality before refueling from the contaminated fuel truck.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 12 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents12

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