# NTSB DEN88LA180: Bell 206B, N49727, Sturgis, SD, August 11, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 10, 1988, 18:30 local (Aug 11, 1988, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Sturgis, SD
- Coordinates: 44.409576, -103.510078 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4096&lon=-103.5101&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 3, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17524
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88LA180
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17524/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA180

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, descent
  - fuel system,electric boost pump - failure,total (cause)
  - maneuver - initiated
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - autorotation
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS ON A FLT WITH 2 PAX TO TAKE PICTURES. HE STATED THAT 'WHILE IN LEVEL FLIGHT AT 120 MPH AND 300 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, A PITCH OVER WAS INITIATED FOR PICTURE TAKING. AT THAT MOMENT, IT APPEARED THAT THE FUEL FLOW CAVITATED. THE FORWARD FUEL PUMP WAS DETERMINED TO BE INOPERATIVE JUST BEFORE THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN, BY THE WARNING LIGHT AND THE AUDIO ENGINE WARNING HORN. A FULL SAFE AUTOROTATION WAS PERFORMED TO TOUCHDOWN IN A FIELD, 1/4 MILE FROM WHERE THE ENGINE QUIT. UPON TOUCHDOWN, THE HELICOPTER ROCKED FORWARD AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM.' A POST-ACDNT INSPN VERIFIED THAT THE ELECTRICAL FUEL BOOST PUMP WAS INOP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N49727](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N49727-1996-07-12), registration cancelled 1996-07-12, S/N 1955 (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: 1955
- Airframe hours: 5700
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ray Burney
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, July 26, 1988, 50 hours before
- Departed: STURGIS, SD

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 20,500 total, 12,000 in this make and model, 20,500 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19880810035689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880810035689A), Aug 10, 1988: Bell 206B, Sturgis, SD, Substantial damage. Fuel system cavitated when a pitch over was made. Engine quit. Autorotation to a field. Rotor blades truck tail boom.

## Other investigations on N49727 (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 ANC94LA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA042), Mar 26, 1994: Bell 206B (N49727), Wrangell, AK, destroyed. Probable cause: THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT HE HAD THE PROPER CLEARANCE FROM OBSTRUCTIONS PRIOR TO LANDING ON THE PLATFORM. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE HIGH OBSTRUCTION (TREE STRUMP).

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.