20050529011169I

Incident

FAA incident report · Bell 206L-3 · Deadhorse, AK · May 29, 2005

Date: May 29, 2005 · 18:41 local
Place: Deadhorse, AK
Airport: Deadhorse
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: EOPA
Aircraft: N133AL
Reported as: Bell 206L3
People aboard: 4
Fatal injuries: 0

N133ALRegistration cancelled Jul 13, 2010 · Bell 206L-3S/N 51133 · Built 1985 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) privacy data omitted at one mile from Deadhorse Airport pilot reported fuel boost pump pressure light flickered on and off. Engine quit and he made an autorotation without incident. Helicopter fuel quantity showed 220 pounds of fuel. Investigation by mechanic found stuck check valve open and boost pump intermittent. This allowed air to enter system from empty forward fuel tanks.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AT ONE MILE FROM DEADHORSE AIRPORT PILOT REPORTED FUEL BOOST PUMP PRESSURE LIGHT FLICKERED ON AND OFF. ENGINE QUIT AND HE MADE AN AUTOROTATION WITHOUT INCIDENT. HELICOPTER FUEL QUANTITY SHOWED 220 POUNDS OF FUEL. INVESTIGATION BY MECHANIC FOUND STUCK CHECK VALVE OPEN AND BOOST PUMP INTERMITTENT. THIS ALLOWED AIR TO ENTER SYSTEM FROM EMPTY FORWARD FUEL TANKS.