# NTSB CEN13LA487: Bell 206B, N804LA, Albers, IL, August 10, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 10, 2013, 18:18 local (23:18 UTC) - Place: Albers, IL - Coordinates: 38.543334, -89.61222 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5433&lon=-89.6122&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 17, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Bell, FAA-SPI-FSDO, Rolls-Royce - NTSB case key (mKey): 87774 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA487 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87774/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87774 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA487 ## Probable cause Fuel contamination, which resulted in the loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1181518), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=1181518), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=1181518), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he performed a preflight inspection of the helicopter and noted no anomalies. Shortly after takeoff, at an altitude of 600 ft above ground level, the pilot initiated a turn, and, halfway through the turn, the engine lost power. The pilot reported that it seemed as though the throttle had rolled back and that he noticed a loss of N2 speed. The engine-out horn sounded, and the engine-out caution light illuminated, so the pilot located a cornfield in which to land, decreased the collective, and performed an autorotation. The helicopter settled into the cornfield and then rolled onto its left side during the landing, which resulted in the tailboom separating from the fuselage. Fuel samples taken from the fueling source and the fuel sump drain did not contain water. However, fuel samples taken from the airframe fuel filter housing contained water. The pilot would not have been able to detect the water in the airframe fuel filter when he checked the fuel sump during the preflight inspection. Maintenance records showed that the airframe fuel filter was changed 2.5 flight hours before the accident; however, it could not be determined how the water was introduced. ## Factual narrative On August 10, 2013, at 1818 central daylight time, a Bell 206BA helicopter, N804LA, rolled over during a forced landing in a corn field following a loss of engine power. The accident occurred near Albers, Illinois. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. The helicopter received substantial damage to the tail boom and fuselage. The helicopter was registered to and operated by N M Land LLC as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operating on a flight plan. The flight originated from private property in Albers, Illinois, just prior to the accident and was destined for Pevely, Missouri. The pilot reported he performed a preflight inspection on the helicopter and pulled it out of the hangar in preparation for the flight. He did not notice any anomalies with the helicopter. He added 50 gallons of Jet A fuel to the helicopter which brought the total amount of fuel onboard to 75 gallons. The pilot then checked the weather, calculated the weight and balance, and loaded the passengers for the flight. The pilot reported he started the helicopter's engine and performed a 2 minute run-up procedure. The pilot took off and departed to the north, leveling off at 600 feet above ground level. He initiated a turn and about half way through the turn the engine lost power. He stated that it seemed as though the throttle rolled back. The pilot noticed a loss of N2 speed. The "engine out" horn sounded and the "engine out" caution light illuminated, so he located a corn field in which to land. He decreased the collective and entered an auto-rotation. The helicopter settled into a corn field and rolled onto its left side during the landing. The tail boom was severed from the fuselage during the landing. The helicopter was fueled from an above ground tank which belonged to the pilot's family who owned the helicopter. The pilot stated they purchased the new tank in 2010 and had it filled with 2,000 gallons of Jet A fuel shortly thereafter. The fuel that was added to the helicopter just prior to the accident was part of the 2,000 gallons of fuel purchased in 2010. Fuel samples were taken from the airframe fuel filter housing, the fuel sump drain, and the above ground fuel storage tank. The sample from the storage tank and the fuel sump were clear of any visible contaminants. The sample drained from the airframe fuel filter housing separated into two layers. The top layer appeared similar to Jet A fuel and the bottom layer was opaque and brown in color. The airframe fuel filter housing was then removed from the helicopter and drained. This fuel sample also separated into two layers similar to the sample taken from the fuel filter housing. The layered fuel samples were tested by Phoenix Chemical Laboratory, Inc., to determine their compositions. The tests results concluded that the upper organic layer of the liquid consisted of a mixture ofaliphatic, aromatic, naphthenic hydrocarbons typical of aviation fuel. The lower layer consisted primarily of water plus a small amount of alcohol/ether. The postaccident examination of the helicopter did not reveal any anomalies other than the contaminated fuel found in the airframe fuel filter housing. A 100/300 hour inspection on the helicopter was completed three day and 2.5 flight hours prior to the accident. According to maintenance records, the engine fuel filter and the airframe fuel filter were replaced during the most recent inspections. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N804LA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N804LA), registered now, S/N 680, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206B - Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206b) (registry code 1181518) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C20B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20b) (registry code 03081, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 680 - Airframe hours: 7291.9 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: N M Land LLC - Registered owner: N M Land LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 7, 2013 - Departed: Albers, IL - Destination: Pevely, MO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; private; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 24, 2011; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 181.6 total, 140.6 in this make and model, 112 as pilot in command, 1.1 in the last 90 days, 1.1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: BLV, 12 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 20130810015519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130810015519A), Aug 10, 2013: Bell 206A, Albers, IL, Substantial damage. The pilot of N804LA, a Bell-206 helicopter had just departed a private business location in Albers, Illinois, to a location near pevely, Missouri. He had… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 13, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87774. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 854 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422581&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422582&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Fuel Sample Test Results (item 3, .PDF, 603 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422583&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fuel%20Sample%20Test%20Results%20-Redacted.PDF - Party Form (item 4, .PDF, 163 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422584&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Party%20Form%20-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 – Fuel Samples (item 5, .PDF, 498 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422585&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Fuel%20Samples-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 6, .PDF, 431 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422586&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20-Redacted.PDF - Maintenance and Parts Manual Excerpts (item 7, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422587&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20and%20Parts%20Manual%20Excerpts-Master.PDF 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.