# Accident 19990716047779A: Bell OH58A, Bastrop, LA, July 16, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 16, 1999, 08:34 local time
- Place: Bastrop, LA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: KFZG
- Location: 32.7708° N, 91.9009° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7708&lon=-91.9009&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9254R (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL OH58A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 12,000 total, 600 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW99LA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA191) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990716047779A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4) THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A CONTAMINATED FUEL SYSTEM. DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, THE REFUELING TRUCK HAD BEEN CONTAMINATED WITH WATER, AND THE ACCIDENT HELICOPTER HAD BEEN FILLED WITH THE CONTAMINATED FUEL.  THE PILOT AND GROUND CREW BECAME AWARE OF THE SITUATION AND SUMPED BOTH THE TRUCK AND THE HELICOPTER.  THE PILOT THOUGHT THAT THE HELICOPTER'S FUEL SYSTEM WAS FREE OF THE CONTAMINATED FUEL.  DURING THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER, THE PILOT INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION, AND THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED PINE TREES. THE FAA INSPECTOR OBSERVED WATER AND ALGAE IN THE HELICOPTER'S FUEL FILTERS.  THE OPERATOR STATED THAT THE REFUELING TRUCK'S WATER FILTER FAILED TO SEPARATE THE WATER FROM THE FUEL DURING THE FUELING OPERATIONS.  AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE OPERATOR INSTALLED WATER/FUEL SEPARATORS IN ALL THE REFUELING TRUCKS IN ADDITION TO THE FILTERS THAT WERE ALREADY IN PLACE AS AN EXTRA MEASURE OF SAFETY.       (-23) PILOT REPORTED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ENROUTE TO THE LOADING AREA.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW99LA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA191), Jul 16, 1999: Bell OH-58A (N9254R), Bastrop, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the refueling truck's filter to separate water resulting in the water contamination in the helicopter's fuel system and subsequent loss of engine power. A factor was the lack of…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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