# NTSB ATL85FA193: Bell 206L-1, N27716, Ghent, WV, June 21, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 21, 1985, 18:10 local (22:10 UTC)
- Place: Ghent, WV
- Coordinates: 37.60958, -81.089439 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6096&lon=-81.0894&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6622
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85FA193
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6622/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85FA193

## 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
  - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - fuel system - foreign object (contributing factor)
  - fuel system - blocked(partial) (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - movement restricted (contributing factor)
  - fuel system,line fitting - leak (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - other (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT TOOK OFF AT 1805 WITH 150 LBS OF FUEL REMAINING, INTENDING TO FLY TO BECKLEY, WV TO REFUEL. HE STATED THAT AFTERHE WAS IN LVL FLT AT ABOUT 3000 FT MSL FOR 3 TO 4 MIN, HE NOTED AN UNUSUAL JERK OR VIBRATION IN THE REAR. SUSPECTING A PSBL TAIL ROTOR PROBLEM, HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE & TURNED TOWARD AN OPEN AREA. HE THEN NOTED THAT THE ENG HAD LOST POWER. DRG AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING, THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD WITHOUT ENOUGH RPM TO CUSHION THE LNDG. AN EXAM OF THE FUEL SYS REVEALED THERE WAS ABOUT 20 GAL OF FUEL REMAINING. THE ENG & FUEL PUMPS OPERATED NORMALLY WHEN TESTED. HOWEVER, FURTHER CHECKS REVEALED THAT WHEN FUEL IN THE AFT TANK WAS BELOW THE STAND PIPE, FUEL WOULD LEAK TO THE FRONT TANK; ALSO, THERE WAS VIRTUALLY NO INDUCED FLOW IN THE LEFT TRANSFER SYS. DISASSEMBLY REVEALED THE STANDPIPE IN THE AFT TANK WAS NOT PROPERLY ALIGNED, THUS THE O-RING WAS NOT PROPERLY SEATED, WHICH ALLOWED A LEAK. A PIECE OF MASKING TAPE WAS FND IN THE INLET TO THE LEFT TRANSFER PUMP. AS THE FRONT TANK APCHD EMPTY (DRG OPN) AIR WAS ENTRAINED IN THE FUEL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N27716 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L-1
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 45293
- Airframe hours: 27496
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C28B 500 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Registered owner: American Natural Resources Coa
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 29, 1985, 22 hours before
- Departed: NONE, ODD, WV
- Destination: BKW, BECKLEY, WV
- Airport: BKW

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,857 total, 13 in this make and model, 1,396 as pilot in command, 135 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BKW, 10 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850621067739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850621067739A), Jun 21, 1985: Bell 206L1, Beckley, WV, Substantial damage. Engine flameout with damage on autorotational landing. Piece of masking tape blocked fuel transfer, fuel migration.

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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