- Date
- April 3, 2001, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Lakeland, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N921MCBell OH-58A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 30, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- TAMPA FSDO-35
- FAA report
- 20010403008919A
- Case key
- 52059
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilots failure to properly use the helicopter checklist
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
This was the first flight following a maintenance inspection. The pilot followed the manufacturers normal operating checklist and began a test flight. Approximately 2 minutes after takeoff, the engine lost power and quit. The fuel valve switch was found in the OFF position. The pilot did not check the position of the fuel valve prior to takeoff. The thru-flight checklist did not mention a fuel switch check during engine start. An expanded checklist includes the item.
Factual narrative
On April 3, 2001, at 1430 eastern daylight time, a Bell OH-58A helicopter, N921MC, collided with the ground during an autorotation following the loss of engine power near Lakeland, Florida. The maintenance test flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The helicopter sustained substantial damage, and the commercial pilot was not injured. The flight departed Lakeland, Florida, at 1415 hours.
This was the first flight following the completion of a maintenance inspection. According to the pilot, he followed the manufacturers normal operating checklist and began a test flight. Approximately 2 minutes after takeoff, the engine lost power and quit during cruise flight. The pilot initiated an autorotation for an emergency landing; the tail boom assembly was damaged during the emergency landing.
Examination of the helicopter revealed that the fuel valve switch was still in the OFF position. It was discovered that the fuel valve had been switched OFF during the last maintenance inspection. The pilot stated he did not check the position of the fuel valve prior to takeoff. The thru-flight checklist used in the helicopter ,TM-55-1520-228-CL does not require the fuel valve position to be checked during preflight, engine start or takeoff procedures. The checklist in manufacturers technical manual TM 55-1520-228-10 , states under section 8-16 "Before Starting Engine procedures", item 3-p "FUEL VALVE HANDLE - Check ON (forward)."
No mechanical problems with the helicopter were reported by the pilot. No mechanical problems were discovered during the airframe examination.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N921MC
- Reported as
- Bell OH-58A
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 72-21260
- Airframe hours
- 3,270
- Engine
- Allison 720-C, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Robert Delvalle
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Special flight (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 3, 2001 · 0 hours before
- Departed
- LAL · Lakeland, FL
- Destination
- Lakeland, FL
- Airport
- LAL · Lakeland Linder Regional
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 61
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- February 12, 2000
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 4,393 total · 560 in this make and model · 4,309 as pilot in command · 21 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.07 inHg
- Observed at
- LAL, 5 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.