# NTSB ANC95LA014: Bell 206B, N3179X, Kenai, AK, December 4, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 4, 1994, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Kenai, AK - Coordinates: 60.659107, -150.900024 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.6591&lon=-150.9000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 23, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2613 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA014 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2613/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA014 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE INFORMATION IN THE FLIGHT MANUAL CONCERNING THE USE OF THE PARTICLE SEPARATOR KIT AND DEFLECTOR KIT WHEN OPERATING IN FALLING SNOW. FACTORS WERE THE ROUGH TERRAIN IN THE FORCED LANDING AREA AND NO INSTALLATION OF THE DEFLECTOR KIT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - induction air control,air filter/screen - not installed (contributing factor) - flight manuals - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - Hard landing, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE HELICOPTER WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT, IN LIGHT FALLING SNOW, WHEN THE PILOT HEARD A POP AND EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE POWER LOSS. THE PILOT AUTOROTATED TO THE GROUND ONTO ROUGH TERRAIN. THE LANDING WAS HARD AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER SHOWED THAT IT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A DEFLECTOR KIT OR FLOW VANES. THE HELICOPTER DID NOT HAVE AN ENGINE RELIGHT SYSTEM INSTALLED. ## Factual narrative On December 4, 1994, at 1230 Alaska standard time, a skid equipped Bell 206B helicopter, N3179X, registered to Kenai Air Hawaii of Honolulu, Hawaii, and operated by the pilot, experienced an engine flameout during cruise flight. The pilot autorotated the helicopter to the ground and landed hard on the beach approximately 8 miles south of Kenai, Alaska. After landing the helicopter turned 180 degrees on the ground and rolled onto its right side. The search and rescue flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Kenai Airport, Kenai, for a local flight. A company flight plan was in effect and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The commercial certificated pilot and the two passengers were not injured and the helicopter was substantially damaged. According to the pilot, he heard a little pop and then the engine flamed out. He executed an autorotation. During the landing the pilot pulled the collective to avoid rough terrain and attempted to land the helicopter in area that was less rough. The rotor RPM decayed and the helicopter landed hard. The pilot stated, the helicopter was not equipped with an engine relight system. Snow deflectors were not installed on the engine inlets and it was snowing lightly. He stated that they visually checked the inlet during flight and it did not appear to be obstructed. The pilot, owner of Kenai Air Alaska and South Central Air, was operating the helicopter on a search for a missing company airplane. The flight was not related to the Kenai Air Alaska, or South Central Air, air taxi operations. Subsequent examination of the engine and helicopter showed that there was fuel on board and the fuel samples were clean. The engine's compressor turned freely and the power turbine turned freely. No damage was visible except for a small bend on the leading edge of one compressor blade. The fuel lines were examined and found to be secure. The air pressure lines were found to be secure. The magnetic plugs were free from magnetic debris. The examination also showed that the helicopter was not equipped with a deflector kit or the flow vanes. According to the Bell Helicopter, Rotorcraft Manufacturer's Data Manual and the Bell Helicopter 206 Flight Manual, "The following equipment shall be installed when conducting flight operations in falling and/or blowing snow to reduce the possibility of engine flameout: The Particle Separator Engine Air Induction System Kit and the Deflector Kit." The Manuals further state that "the Particle Separator Engine Air Induction System shall be installed in conjunction with Deflector Kit when conducting flight operations in falling and/or blowing snow and the following limits apply: Hover flight in falling and/or blowing snow is limited to 20 minutes duration after which the helicopter must be landed and checked for snow and/or ice accumulation." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3179X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3179X-2009-08-10), registration cancelled 2009-08-10, S/N 3756, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206B - Registry model: [Bell 206B-III](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b-iii) (registry code 1181506) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C20 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (registry code 03020, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3756 - Airframe hours: 3745 - Engines: ALLISON 250-C20J 400 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Vern Loftstedt - Registered owner: Kenai Air Hawaii, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 21, 1994, 26 hours before - Departed: ENA, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 11,900 total, 5,500 in this make and model, 11,700 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 10 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 34 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19941204040509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941204040509A), Dec 4, 1994: Bell 206B, Kenai, AK, Substantial damage. Engine flame out. Autorotated to beach hard landing. Rolled. Not equipped for operating in snow. No particle kit. ## Other investigations on N3179X (2) 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 LAX86LA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA091), Jan 16, 1986: Bell 206B-3 (N3179X), Waimea, HI, substantial damage - [NTSB LAX85LA282](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA282), Jun 15, 1985: Bell 206B-III (N3179X), Lahaina, HI, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.