20011102034629I

Incident

FAA incident report · Bell 206L-3 · Intracoastalcit, LA · November 2, 2001

Date: November 2, 2001 · 08:09 local
Place: Intracoastalcit, LA
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: ALGA
Aircraft: N2616
Reported as: Bell 206L3
Reported engine: Allison 250C30P
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0

N2616Registration cancelled Apr 7, 2004 · Bell 206L-3S/N 51418 · Built 1990 Airframe modelBell 206L-3 Engine modelAllison 250-C30 seriesTurbo-shaft

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Engine power loss and subsequent shutdown was determined to be caused by fuel flow blockage at the fuel nozzle by physical contaminants. Fuel analysis indicates a large undiluted quantity of methl carbitol present in the fuel. Methyl carbitol is a flammable, colorless, water soluble solvent weighing 8.5 lbs per gallon, used in the manufacture of prist, a fuel anti ice and anti fungal product. In an undiluted form, methyl carbitol will deteriorate rubber fuel cells, o'rings, acrylics used in filters, and loosen and suspend any "sludge" which may be present in the fuel system. Operator's fuel handling procedures manual is being revised.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ENGINE POWER LOSS AND SUBSEQUENT SHUTDOWN WAS DETERMINED TO BE CAUSED BY FUEL FLOW BLOCKAGE AT THE FUEL NOZZLE BY PHYSICAL CONTAMINANTS. FUEL ANALYSIS INDICATES A LARGE UNDILUTED QUANTITY OF METHL CARBITOL PRESENT IN THE FUEL. METHYL CARBITOL IS A FLAMMABLE, COLORLESS, WATER SOLUBLE SOLVENT WEIGHING 8.5 LBS PER GALLON, USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PRIST, A FUEL ANTI ICE AND ANTI FUNGAL PRODUCT. IN AN UNDILUTED FORM, METHYL CARBITOL WILL DETERIORATE RUBBER FUEL CELLS, O'RINGS, ACRYLICS USED IN FILTERS, AND LOOSEN AND SUSPEND ANY "SLUDGE" WHICH MAY BE PRESENT IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. OPERATOR'S FUEL HANDLING PROCEDURES MANUAL IS BEING REVISED.