# Accident 20240715008799A: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 600N, Eagle Lake, TX, July 15, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 15, 2024, 22:30 local time
- Place: Eagle Lake, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.5873° N, 96.3286° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Eagle Lake, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5873&lon=-96.3286&mi=10
- Aircraft: N609RP, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N609RP) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 600N (registry code 3027377, https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-helicopter-600n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C47 series (registry code 03029, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c47-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELICOPTER 600N
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250-C47
- People aboard: 6
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 6
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240715008799A

## Narrative

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

WHILE CONDUCTING AERIAL GUNNERY OPERATIONS THE AIRCRAFT INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT SUFFERED ENGINE POWER LOSS RESULTING IN A CRASH WHICH INJURED ALL 6 PEOPLE ON BOARD.  AFTER RECOVERY OF THE AIRCRAFT AN INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED ON THE AIRCRAFT’S ENGINE AND AIRCRAFT'S FUEL SYSTEM.  NO ISSUES WERE FOUND DURING THE ENGINE INSPECTION CONDUCTED BY THE ENGINE MANUFACTURE REPRESENTATIVE.  DURING THE FUEL CELL INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FUEL BOOST PUMP (PN 369A8143-3) HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THIS AIRCRAFT AND THE WIRING ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PUMP HAD BEEN CUT AND ZIP TIED IN PLACE.  THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE (PN369A8113-BSC) THAT RUNS FROM THE BOOST PUMP TO THE ENGINE SUPPLY LINE WAS ALSO MISSING.  THIS AIRCRAFT’S FUEL SUPPLY WAS INCORRECTLY CONFIGURED TO DRAW FUEL FROM THE FORWARD LEFT HAND FUEL CELL INSTEAD OF THE AFT LEFT HAND FUEL CELL AS PER THE MANUFACTURE’S ORIGINAL DESIGN. DURING THE RECOVERY OF THE AIRCRAFT APPROXIMATELY 19.5 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS RECOVERED FROM THE AFT LEFT HAND FUEL CELL BUT DUE TO THE MISCONFIGURATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM THE ENGINE COULD NOT USE THIS FUEL.  THEREFORE, THE IMPROPER CONFIGURATION OF THE AIRCRAFT’S FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM AND REMOVAL OF CRITICAL COMPONENTS LED TO FUEL STARVATION OF THE ENGINE AND LOSS OF POWER.

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

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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