# NTSB CHI99LA130: Bell 206B, N119SP, Cloquet, MN, April 10, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 9, 1999, 20:15 local (Apr 10, 1999, 01:15 UTC) - Place: Cloquet, MN - Coordinates: 46.719593, -92.490715 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.7196&lon=-92.4907&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 13, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46114 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA130 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46114/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA130 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate fuel management which led to fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power. Related factors were the pole and dusk light conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor) - fuel management - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - light condition - dusk (contributing factor) - object - pole (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was 10 miles from Cloquet Carlton County Airport when he noticed a low fuel pressure warning. The pilot stated that he knew of a field that he could land in, five miles from his current position, and decided to maneuver the helicopter to that location. The pilot reported that while over the predetermined field, at approximately 300 feet above ground level, the engine lost total power and he began an autorotation towards the field. The pilot stated that he performed a run-on landing, in order to avoid two posts, and came to rest in an upright attitude. The pilot reported that he did not see the reflecting posts until the aircraft was near the ground because of the low light condition. The pilot reported that he had 35-gallons of fuel when he departed Crystal Airport at 1905. The pilot stated that the flight time, from Crystal Airport to Cloquet Carlton County Airport, was typically 1.2 hours to 1.5 hours. According to the Chief Pilot of the Minneapolis State Police, the fuel burn for the accident helicopter was 25 gallons/hour. In a telephone conversation with the investigator-in-charge, the pilot indicated that he ran out of fuel during the accident flight. ## Factual narrative On April 9, 1999, at 2015 central daylight time, a Bell 206B, N119SP, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The positioning flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed Crystal Airport, Minneapolis, Minnesota at 1905 and was en route to Cloquet Carlton County Airport, Cloquet, Minnesota. According to the pilot, he was 10 miles from Cloquet Carlton County Airport when he received a low fuel pressure warning. The pilot stated that he knew of a field that he could land in, five miles from his current position, and decided to maneuver the helicopter to that location. The pilot reported that while over the predetermined field, at approximately 300 feet above ground level, the engine lost total power and he began an autorotation towards the field. The pilot stated that he performed a run-on landing, in order to avoid two posts, and came to rest in an up-right attitude. The pilot reported that he did not see the reflecting posts until the aircraft was near the ground because of the low light condition. The pilot reported that he had 35-gallons of fuel when he departed Crystal Airport at 1905. The pilot stated that the flight time, from Crystal Airport to Cloquet Carlton County Airport, was typically 1.2 hours to 1.5 hours. According to the Chief Pilot of the Minneapolis State Police, the fuel burn for the accident helicopter was 25 gallons/hour. In a telephone conversation with the investigator-in-charge, the pilot indicated that he ran out of fuel during the accident flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: N119SP (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Bell 206B - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3151 - Airframe hours: 6703 - Engines: Allison 250-C20 250 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Minnesota State Patrol - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 9, 1999, 3 hours before - Departed: MIC, MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Destination: COQ, MN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 6,164 total, 450 in this make and model, 6,113 as pilot in command, 105 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 80° at 13 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: COQ, 5 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 19990409043959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990409043959A), Apr 9, 1999: Bell 206L4, Cloquet, MN, No damage. (-23) N119SP departed mic for coq after completion of an annual inspection and series of maintenance flights. The a/c ran out of fuel about five (5) miles… 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.