# NTSB ATL82DA036: Bell 206B, N203AL, Centerville, AL, January 17, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: January 17, 1982, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Centerville, AL
- Coordinates: 32.949043, -87.130455 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9490&lon=-87.1305&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 17, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70174
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL82DA036
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70174/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82DA036

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, hover
  - fluid,fuel - water (cause)
  - weather condition - temperature extremes (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - ice (cause)
  - fuel system,filter - blocked(total) (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1331
- Airframe hours: 6150
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 34; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19820117001049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820117001049A), Jan 17, 1982: Bell 206B, Centerville, AL, Substantial damage. Helicopter crashed during emergency landing after engine failure.

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.

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