# NTSB CHI83LA085: Bell 206B, N59426, Cincinnati, OH, January 17, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 17, 1983, 12:50 local (17:50 UTC)
- Place: Cincinnati, OH
- Location: 39.1035° N, 84.5153° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cincinnati, OH, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1035&lon=-84.5153&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12071
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI83LA085
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12071/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83LA085

## 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
  - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - false indication (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor)
  - refueling - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - pressure induced by others, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fuel supply - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - utility pole (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE BELL 206 HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED FUEL EXHAUSTION DURING APPROACH FOR LANDING AT A HELIPAD. DURING AUTOROTATION THE PILOT MOVED LEFT TO AVOID A PICKUP TRUCK ON THE OFF RAMP OF I-75 AND COLLIDED WITH A LIGHT POLE AT ABOUT 10 FEET AGL. THE AIRCRAFT YAWED LEFT, LANDED HARD AND SLID ABOUT 10 FEET.THE PILOT HAD STARTED THE FLIGHT WITH LESS THAN A FULL LOAD OF FUEL TO AVOID BEING LATE FOR TV NEWS PHOTOGRAPHERS, WHO WERE TO BE HIS PASSENGERS. AFTER PICKING UP THE TWO PASSENGERS AT WCPO-TV HELIPAD THEY FLEW FOR ABOUT 40 MINUTES, WHEN THE PILOT WITH 12 GALLONS OF FUEL INDICATED, INFORMEDTHE PASSENGERS THEY HAD TO RETURN BECAUSE OF LOW FUEL. AT 300 FEET AGL ABOUT ONE QUARTER MILE FROM THE PAD WITH 9 GALLONS INDICATED THE REAR BOOST PUMP WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE AIR FILTER ICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A DROP IN FUEL PRESSURE, FOLLOWED BY AUTO IGNITION LIGHT AND FLAME OUT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N59426](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59426-1989-08-21), registration cancelled 1989-08-21, S/N 1126 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1126
- Airframe hours: 2555
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 317 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Kentucky Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 4,788 total, 2,067 in this make and model, 4,607 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 1 °F, dew point 7 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LUK, 6 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 19830117002049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830117002049A), Jan 17, 1983: Bell 206BELL, Cincinnati, OH, Substantial damage. Unable to refuel at fueling stop,pilot continued flight to fuel exhaustion. Main rotors hit a lightpole on landing.

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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