- Date
- January 17, 1982, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Centerville, AL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N203ALBell 206B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 17, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820117001049A
- Case key
- 70174
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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
The mishap occurred during a practice hover with a 100 ft cable in preparation for an external load operation. While hovering about 100 ft AGL, the fuel boost pump light illuminated and the boost pump pressure dropped to zero. A descent was started; however, while still at about 100 ft AGL, the engine lost all power. The pilot entered an autorotation, but the aircraft landed hard. The pilot noted frost on the fuel cap that was not present during the preflight inspection. Also, a small amount of ice was observed floating in the fuel about 45 minutes after the accident. During a subsequent examination of the engine and aircraft, water was found in the fuel tank, airframe fuel filter, engine fuel pump filter and high pressure fuel filter. The fuel supply line from the high pressure fuel filter to the fuel control was empty. Anti-ice fuel additive was not required in the fuel, since this bell 206B was equipped with an airframe fuel filter. The source of water/ice could not be determined. Temperature minus 1 deg f.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N203AL
- Reported as
- Bell 206B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1331
- Airframe hours
- 6,150
- Engine
- Allison 250C-20B, 317 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- Air Logistics
- Registered owner
- Trans Union Leasing Corp.
- Departed
- Centerville, AL
- Destination
- Centerville, AL
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 3,412 total · 959 in this make and model · 3,263 as pilot in command · 34 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 315° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- 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.