# NTSB CEN23LA237: Bell 206B, N85RB, Pratt, KS, June 11, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 11, 2023, 14:06 local (19:06 UTC) - Place: Pratt, KS · ag field - Coordinates: 37.621944, -98.834278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6219&lon=-98.8343&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 192358 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA237 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192358/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192358 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA237 ## Probable cause Fuel exhaustion due to the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning. ## 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 management (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and a camera operator were conducting aerial pipeline surveillance at the time of the accident. At the initial planned fuel stop, the self-service Jet A fuel pump did not operate properly, and the pilot was unable to obtain any assistance from the airport. With over “half a tank of fuel”, the pilot decided to depart and conduct some additional pipeline surveillance en route to an alternate fuel stop. However, Jet A fuel was not available at the alternate fuel stop. Efforts to find assistance also were not successful. The nearest airport with Jet A fuel was approximately 40 miles away, and about 15 gallons of fuel remained onboard the helicopter. The pilot elected to proceed 15 to 20 miles and land next to a road in an effort to reach cellphone coverage or find a passing vehicle to request assistance. After clearing a windmill farm the pilot began an approach for landing near a road about 6 miles from the intended destination airport. About 100 ft above ground level, “the engine flamed out due to lack of fuel.” The pilot entered an autorotation and subsequently impacted an agricultural field. The aft cabin and lower portion of the aft fuselage sustained substantial damage. The landing skids and aft portion of the tail boom were separated. Neither the pilot nor the operator reported any mechanical failures or malfunctions associated with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N85RB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N85RB), registered now, S/N 831, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206B - Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C20](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20) (registry code 54178, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 831 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 22057 - Engines: Rolls-Royce 250-C20 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 27, 2023 - Departed: 3K8, Coldwater, KS - Destination: PTT, Pratt, KS - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: PTT, Pratt Regional - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Handheld GPS, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: minor; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,300 total, 800 in this make and model, 1,800 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KPTT, 6 nm away - METAR: METAR KPTT 111915Z AUTO 03013KT 10SM SCT029 SCT036 BKN065 25/16 A2995 ## 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 20230611008069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230611008069A), Jun 11, 2023: Bell 206B, Pratt, KS, Substantial damage. Having completed first job, the pilot headed for peeryton (kpxy) for refuel. No fuel available. Next he headed to ashland, KS and to commanche co. (K38K) for… ## Other investigations on N85RB (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN12LA267](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA267), May 2, 2012: Bell 206B (N85RB), Valley Falls, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate compensation for the wind conditions during a hover maneuver, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 27, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192358. 3.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15747648&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Report%20--%20CEN23LA237_redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15746780&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20--%20CEN23LA237-Rel.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.